Government Gives Green Light For New Thornton Hall Prison

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern T.D., has confirmed the Irish Government's commitment to developing a new prison campus at Thornton Hall, in Co. Dublin.

Minister Ahern said the new campus would replace Mountjoy Prison, delivering a safe and secure custody.

The Minister said phase one involves essential basic work required for the development, including the construction of a dedicated access route and a perimeter wall: "This work will proceed in the short term on the basis of separate contracts. Work is expected to start on this phase later this year or early next year."

"The procurement process for the buildings and facilities that will make up the new prison campus is complex. Our objective will be to complete the procurement process for the main prison complex while construction of phase one is underway. Once a contract is signed for the main complex, it will allow for construction to commence immediately.

"Our twin aim in these revised proposals has been to best protect the taxpayers' interests and at the same time provide modern accommodation to replace the Mountjoy prison complex in the shortest possible time frame. While Phase One is underway, we will be examining in the changed economic climate how best to proceed with the main complex.

"We currently face overcrowding in our prison system despite the fact that almost 1,400 new prison spaces have been provided since 1997. We have another 400 new spaces coming on stream very shortly. In fact, the first of 100 prisoners are currently being moved in to a new block in Castlerea Prison." 

In addition to the extra spaces at Castlerea, a new block in Portlaoise Prison which will accommodate approximately 150 prisoners is due to open by the end of July; a new block in Wheatfield Prison which will accommodate 150 prisoners is due to open in September.

As well as providing more spaces the Minister has asked his officials to examine how we can make use of  Electronic Monitoring technology to release suitable prisoners from prison earlier - this work is being done by a Project Board led by the Probation Service and the Minister expects to have their proposals in a matter of months.

The National Commission on Restorative Justice is also due to report very shortly on how Ireland might make greater use of the restorative justice concept. Two projects in Nenagh and Tallaght are already being funded by the Government.

A review of the Community Service Scheme is also nearing completion and the indications are that greater use could be made of this scheme.