Parliamentary Question: Departmental Properties

3rd April 2007

185. Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform  the price he paid for a property (details supplied) which is adjacent to Mountjoy Prison; the extent of the site; if he will include it as part of the Mountjoy site development; if he will include Mountjoy Garda Station in the plans; the extent of the total site now in the possession of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12554/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):  I wish to advise the Deputy that neither my Department nor the Irish Prison Service had any role in the purchase of the site in question, which I understand was a matter for the Office of Public Works.

In relation to Mountjoy Garda Station, section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 sets out the Garda Commissioner's obligation to produce an Annual Policing Plan. Such a Plan must include any proposal to cease stationing members in an existing station.

I will carefully consider any proposal from the Commissioner relating to the matters referred to by the Deputy in due course. It should also be noted that Mountjoy Garda Station is owned by the Office of Public Works rather than my Department.

The Mountjoy Prison Complex comprises approximately 20 acres in size.