Parliamentary Question: Prison Building Programme

4th November 2003

597. Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the training and development his Department is undertaking to ensure that prison building by the Office of Public Works is done more efficiently, in order that the concerns he identified in Dáil Éireann on 15 October 2003 regarding the building of Wheatfield are not repeated. [25417/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): Since the construction of Wheatfield Prison in the late 1980s, the Irish Prison Service has successfully undertaken several major prison developments. The most recent of these is the new Midlands Prison which opened in November 2000, and which is generally recognised as an excellent development in line with the best international standards. The contract to build this prison was awarded on a part design, build and finance basis, in which the contractor undertook to develop the design and deliver the buildings in accordance with a brief furnished by the Office of Public Works. Other major projects completed since the construction of Wheatfield Prison include Cloverhill and Castlerea prisons and the Dochas centre.

I am satisfied that the experience gained by the Irish Prison Service, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works, in the development of these recent major projects has been of great benefit and will help to ensure that future capital projects that are undertaken will be delivered in accordance with the highest standards and efficiencies.