Planned prison closures ‘to begin next week’

The planned closure of Fort Mitchell Prison and the Curragh Detention Centre due to a dispute over prison officers’ overtime is reportedly due to begin next week.

The planned closure of Fort Mitchell Prison and the Curragh Detention Centre is reportedly due to begin next week.

They are being closed due to a dispute over prison officers’ overtime.

Reports this morning said staff at Portlaoise Prison had been told to prepare to accept inmates from the Curragh from the middle of next week.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell decided to close the two prisons as part of a stand-off with the Prison Officers Association (POA) over how to reduce the annual overtime bill.

The POA has accused the Minister of extreme provocation by implementing cutbacks while talks on the overtime matter were still ongoing.

The association and the Prison Service are due to resume those talks at the Labour Relations Commission on Monday.