Parliamentary Question: Prison Building Programme.

20th February 2007

225. Mr. McEntee asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an assessment was undertaken of the R130 road which is the access road to the proposed Thornton Hall prison site; the persons who undertook the assessment; if the circumstances of the local school (details supplied) were included in the assessment; if a copy of the environmental impact assessment to support the case that the R130 road was suitable for access to the prison site will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6154/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): The site at Thornton Hall was the subject of a detailed assessment and report carried out by Clifton Scannell Emerson Associates, Consulting Engineers which was completed in January 2005.

This report, which was considered by the site selection committee, recommended that primary road access to the site would be via the existing R130 subject to some improvements to the existing junction arrangements. The circumstances of the school were fully considered in this assessment.

The planning and consultation procedures for the prison development at Thornton Hall are set out in the Prison Bill 2006 currently before this House. These procedures will require the publication of an Environmental Impact Statement which will address all the relevant issues including the proposed access arrangements and all of the relevant background information including detailed traffic surveys etc.

This Environmental Impact Statement will be published and members of the public will have the opportunity to comment.