PRISONS:THE CONSTRUCTION of prisons at Thornton Hall in Dublin and Kilworth in Cork has been put on hold by the Government, with Minister for Justice and Defence Alan Shatter saying he will instead release prisoners early to ease overcrowding.
The plans have been strongly criticised by the Irish Penal Reform Trust and the Opposition.
Fianna Fáil’s spokesman on justice Dara Calleary suggested that when Mr Shatter was in opposition, he was critical of the then government’s prison policy but in office he had now shelved a new prison that would have tackled chronic overcrowding.
The Penal Reform Trust said the new plans for the prison system were of “grave concern”, because there was no mention of how slopping out would be eradicated in Cork Prison. “While the pledge to extend in-cell sanitation in Mountjoy’s B-wing is positive, there has been no action at all to address the chronic situation in Cork Prison, where more than 270 men in shared cells have to slop out,” it said.
Mr Shatter insisted that while the 2012 capital allocation for the justice sector did not allow for the construction of Thornton Hall and Kilworth Prison, the Government was still committed to both projects. “It is my strong intention to revisit the timeframe for their delivery in 12 months’ time.”
In the short term, the overcrowding that has already led to 15 per cent of the prisoner population – or 770 inmates – being given early release will be eased by further early releases.
A six-month pilot programme has already begun under which prisoners who Mr Shatter claims pose no risk to the public have been released early in exchange for undergoing community service.
To date 16 prisoners have been released early with another 14 due out early “within the next week”.
The capital allocation for justice next year has fallen to €56 million, from €80 million. The Irish Prison Service is to receive €24.1 million, mainly for refurbishing and modernising existing prisons and adding new accommodation.
A new 300-space prison wing at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise is due for completion next year.
The new cells, along with the planned increase in early releases, should have some impact on easing overcrowding. However, early releases are very politically sensitive and will most likely not be welcomed by victims’ groups.
The remainder of the justice capital allocation, €20.4 million, will mainly be used to maintain and develop information technology and communication systems for the Garda and the Courts Service.