'Significant decision' on future of old Cork prison expected soon

A final decision on the future of the old Cork prison is expected in the coming weeks, with “a significant decision” proposed.

A feasibility study on the condition of the buildings, with regard to their potential for use as prisoner accommodation in the short to medium term, was commissioned earlier this year.

Cork Prison was operating at 113% capacity, with 334 prisoners, as of last Friday, meaning 38 people were sleeping on the floor.

A freedom of Information request by The Echo to the Irish Prison Service for this feasibility report was denied, by reason of the fact that “the requester concerned would thereby become aware of a significant decision that the body proposes to make”.

“The department is in the process of considering options with regard to old Cork Prison and have not yet made a final determination in the matter,” a spokesperson for the Information Access Office at the Irish Prison Services said.

“The document in question is expected to be agreed in the coming weeks.”

The former Cork Prison ceased to operate as a prison in February 2016, following the opening of a new facility on the same road.

Decommissioned

After the transfer of operations, the facility was decommissioned and has remained unused.

Earlier this week, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee told Labour Party TD for Cork North Central Seán Sherlock that a number of groups had considered the site for potential use, but none of these options were currently being progressed.

The site was identified as a potential location for social and affordable housing and the Irish Prison Service had a formal engagement with the Land Development Agency (LDA) on the potential use of the site last March.

Ms McEntee said the site is not being considered for such use at this time, adding that there was interest expressed locally in using the site for the community, but no formal proposal was submitted.

“With the continued pressure on prisoner numbers across the prison estate, the site of the former prison at Cork has been identified as a possible location for additional prisoner accommodation,” she said.