Parliamentary Question: Prison Service Property

27th March 2007

200. Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of funding received for the sale of grounds of Shanganagh Castle; the use same was put to; the position in relation to the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11112/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): Approximately 21 acres of land was sold for €9m to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in 2005. The remaining 6.3 acres including the buildings, were subsequently sold by public tender competition in October, 2006 for €20.6m. The Irish Prison Service no longer has any interest in the lands at Shanganagh Castle.

The proceeds from the sale of the lands at Shanganagh Castle went into the Central Fund and cover the cost of acquiring the 150 acre site in North County Dublin to facilitate the new prison development at Thornton Hall which will replace the Mountjoy Prison Complex.