POA 'confused' at future of prison service

The Prison Officers Association has said its members are confused about the Government’s plans for the future of the Prison Service.

Speaking at the association’s annual conference in Ennis today, POA president Gabriel Keaveney said prison officers were originally told that certain prisons would be closed, but then heard they would be kept open.

Mr Keaveney described the situation as ridiculous.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell, meanwhile, told the conference today that his plans to build two new “super prisons” in Dublin and Cork would make a significant difference to the Prison Service.

He said existing Irish prisons were operated at close to full capacity and the new prisons would alleviate this situation.

Mr McDowell also said his officials were examining alternatives to imprisonment, including the electronic tagging of convicted criminals.