Parliamentary Question: Prison Building Programme

27th March 2007

199. Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the construction of the education unit at St. Patrick's Institution was completed; the projected and actual cost; the number of people and their capacity, employed in the running of the facility; the activities that have taken place there to date; when they commenced; the number of young offenders who have used same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11111/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): The construction of the education unit at St. Patrick's Institution was completed in April 2003. The Project was budgeted at €8m including VAT. The final account amounted to €7.5m including VAT.

The facility consisted of a dedicated educational unit, a recreational sports hall, counselling rooms as well as other ancillary services, thereby creating a self-contained facility. However, the negotiations on the staffing and operation of the new Education Unit were deferred pending the advancement and roll-out of the wider change agenda comprehended by the Agreed Proposal for Organisational Change in the Prison Service as a whole. Following the successful implementation of this comprehensive and fundamental change package for the Prison Service in early 2006, discussions resumed on the staffing and operational requirements of the new Unit.

I have asked Prison Service management to give priority attention to bringing these talks to a conclusion. It is intended in any event to proceed with the opening of the school element of the facility on a phased basis in the week commencing Monday 2nd April, 2007.