A £3 million extension to Limerick Prison was opened yesterday by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue. The extension, he said, would bring accommodation at the 176year-old prison from 150 prisoners to 210, and would include 48 single and nine double cells.
Mr O'Donoghue added that within two years the prison capacity in the State would have increased by 80 per cent and should end "the revolving-door syndrome which for many years has seriously undermined the effective operation of the criminal justice system ".
Mr O'Donoghue said he would be appointing an interim board shortly as the first step towards establishing an independent prisons authority to run the State's prisons.