APPENDIX Z

QUESTION:

To ask the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners accommodated on Spike Island during the month of February, 1986; the criteria he has set for prisoners who are sent there; the steps he has taken to ensure that proper alarms and back-up security are available; at what stage is the rebuilding and refurbishing programme; and the estimated capital expenditure planned for Spike Island in 1986.

QUESTION:

To ask the Minister for Justice if repairs to Spike Island have been completed; the total cost of such repairs; if policy in relation to the category of prisoners to be held there has changed since the establishment of this facility; and if he will make a statement regarding its future use.

For answer on 4th March, 1986.

ANSWER:

I propose to take question No. 5 and priority question No. 26 together. Fort Mitchel can currently provide accommodation at any one time for 50 offenders. During February a total of 70 offenders were held at the Fort. As has always been the case, offenders are transferred to the Fort following an assessment by staff of the transferring institution as to their suitability, if necessary following consultation with the Governor and staff of Fort Mitchel itself.

As indicated in reply to Question No. 22 of 27 November last, work is proceeding to increase the capacity of the institution to 80. No decision has yet been taken on the question of redeveloping the remainder of the Fort area, including that portion damaged during the disturbances there on 1st September last. In those circumstances, and as has already been pointed out by my predecessor, it is not a question of repairs and the question of the cost of repairs accordingly does not arise.

I do not believe it would serve the public interest to comment publicly on the alarm arrangements in operation or the arrangements for back-up forces to be available in event of an emergency arising at the Fort.

Provision has been made in the Estimates for the Prison Vote to cover expenditure on the work already in progress at the Fort - this is expected to come to about £250,000 exclusive of the pay of Prison Trades Officers employed on the project. In addition, provision has been included for work on the redevelopment of the remainder of the Fort in the event of it being decided to follow that course of action.

Outline plans for this redevelopment, drawn up by the Office of Public Works, are at present being considered in my Department but since, as I have said, a decision has not yet been made, I cannot say if any capital expenditure will be incurred in this work this year.