Parliamentary Question: Managing Places of Detention

18th February 2004

285. Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress to date in the ongoing talks between his Department, the Irish Prison Service and the Irish Prison Officers' Association on the future management of some places of detention; if every effort will be made to retain Loughan House under the management of the Irish Prison Service as it is the most cost-effective prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5354/04]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): The Deputy will be aware that the future management of the open centres at Shelton Abbey, County Wicklow, and Loughan House, County Cavan, was the subject of a Government decision on 11 November 2003. That decision approved a series of measures to be taken on a rolling basis with effect from 1 January 2004 in the event of failure to reach agreement with the Prison Officers' Association on a change agenda aimed at eliminating overtime payments and reducing other costs in the Irish Prison Service. These measures included the mothballing of the Curragh Place of Detention and Fort Mitchel Place of Detention and the transformation of the open centres at Loughan House and Shelton Abbey into independently managed post-release centres for the re-integration into society of prisoners on strict terms of temporary release similar to the existing arrangements for prisoners at both centres.

The reasons for the Government decision have been well aired in the House and in the Seanad. I refer the Deputy to the Adjournment debates in the House on 12, 18 and 27 November 2003 and to an Adjournment debate in the Seanad on 19 November 2003. In the course of those debates, I made it clear that the Irish Prison Service could not continue to spend public money to feed an overtime culture, which was virtually out of control, while sustaining outdated and inefficient work practices. I also made it clear that I had no desire to close or mothball prisons and that my preference was for a mutually advantageous agreement with the Prison Officers' Association which would ensure an efficient and cost effective prison service into the future. My position has not changed in that regard.

As regards the progress of discussions between the Irish Prison Service and the Prison Officers' Association, the Deputy will be aware that those discussions were taking place at the Labour Relations Commission with the assistance of a facilitator and that an impasse was reached between the parties during the past month. Talks were adjourned on 30 January 2004 to allow both sides time to reflect on how the difficulty might be overcome. I am happy that discussions at the Labour Relations Commission resumed on 16 February 2004 and will reconvene on 20 February 2004. The Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the progress of those discussions.

As regards the future of Loughan House and Shelton Abbey, I have indicated on numerous occasions that my preference is for these open centres to continue to be operated by the prison service and staffed by prison officers. I am hopeful that an agreement can be reached with the Prison Officers' Association on a mutually acceptable way forward. However, there will be no option but to proceed with the transfer of these centres to new management in the event that agreement is not reached.