The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, John O'Donoghue T.D., today inaugurated a new 515 place prison at Portlaoise.
The new Midlands Prison is located on a site adjacent to the existing Portlaoise Prison at Dublin Rd Portlaoise. It is a modern, secure and highly equipped institution with an emphasis on work/training, education and recreational facilities for inmates. These include large modern factory units, a 30 room educational complex and a large gymnasium. It also boasts the most modern prison technology with advanced locking and control systems.
There are at present approximately 30 prisoners accommodated in the new prison and this figure will, in accordance with best international practice on the commissioning of new places of custody, be increased to full capacity on a phased basis over the coming months.
In line with the GovernmentÆs policy of Public Private Partnership the Midlands Prison was acquired on a finance, design and build basis at a total overall cost of approx. ú43m.
At the inauguration today Minister John OÆDonoghue said "When I came into office, the so-called "revolving door", which did so much to undermine our entire criminal justice system, was in full swing. This Government was determined to restore respect for the criminal justice system and to restore order in our prison system. Since 1997, I have presided over an unprecedented investment in our prison infrastructure. With the inauguration today of the new Midlands Prison, over 1200 additional prison spaces will have been provided by this Government with a further 700 on the way. The phenomenon of the "revolving door" has all but ceased and I am determined by way of this major prison capital building programme to bring it to a halt altogether". |
