Prison service to move in decentralisation programme

The Irish Prison Service is to move from Dublin to Longford within two years as part of the Government’s decentralisation programme, it emerged today.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said a new headquarters would be built on a six-acre site on the Ballinalee Road in Longford.

“Construction work is expected to commence before the end of the summer and the target is to have a fully fitted out headquarters ready to occupy by the end of next year, with staff moving in at the beginning of 2007.”

He added that a crèche would also be built on the site using funding from the Equal Opportunities Childcare programme.