McDowell reassures prison officers on overcrowding

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has given assurances that the "revolving door" system in prisons is over and has announced plans to build a new prison on the site of the former Spike Island jail in Co Cork.

At the Prison Officers' Association annual delegate conference today in Killarney, Co Kerry, officers heard the shortage of prison spaces is the major issue facing the prison service today.

POA president Gabriel Keaveny said the Government appeared to be doing "nothing about it".  His speech to delegates was delivered prior to the Minister's announcement that he plans to build a new €70 million prison at Spike Island.

The Minister, speaking at the Prison Officers' Association annual conference in Killarney, said the new prison, which will house 450 men, women and young offenders, would be built within three to four years. The new facility will augment the existing Fort Mitchell detention centre on the island, he said.

The OPW is to look into the feasibility of building a bridge to the island, he added.

The new prison will replace Cork Prison, which Mr McDowell conceded was overcrowded.

"Cork Prison needs to be replaced with a modern facility with the full range of work, training, educational and medical services for inmates as well as predominantly single cell accommodation with proper in-cell sanitation facilities."

Spike Island was closed as part of Mr McDowell's cost-saving drive in 2004. The Curragh detention centre, which was used mainly to house sex offenders, and Shanganagh Castle for young offenders, were also shut down.

The Minister has faced strong criticism from the POA over the crowded conditions in Irish prisons, with the association claiming the situation was causing increased tension among prisoners and putting extra pressure on staff.

Eugene Dennehy, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA) said Cork and Mountjoy prisons were filled beyond capacity, as was St Patrick's Institution for young offenders in Dublin.

"You can imagine the difficulty for people in custody. Two people in a cell where there's no in-cell sanitation and where there's no privacy. It increases stress, and this all increases the difficulty for prison officers working on the ground floor in this environment," Mr Dennehy said.

Mr McDowell also said work would start in September on a new wing at Wheatfield Prison and it is hoped construction on Thornton prison in north Dublin would start early next year. Facilities will also be improved at Shelton Abbey and Loughan House, he said.

A new services building is due to be ready at Limerick Prison early next year, while work is underway on a new block for 140 inmates at Portlaoise.

The Minister said a number of videoconferencing rooms at Cloverhill Prison has now been completed, meaning bail applications and adjournment hearings can be conducted without the prisoner having to travel to court.

He added that his programme to replace padded cells with special observation and close supervision cells was nearly finished.

Mr McDowell and gardaí have expressed their dissatisfaction with the level of crime being committed by offenders while on bail. Some 5,600 crimes were carried out last year by people freed on bail.