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New prison plans are announced New prison plans are announced
(about 2 hours later)
A new jail is to be built at the site of Magilligan Prison near Coleraine, Security Minister Paul Goggins has announced.A new jail is to be built at the site of Magilligan Prison near Coleraine, Security Minister Paul Goggins has announced.
The new prison will house 800 inmates and will cost about £215m to build. The new prison will house 800 inmates and will cost about £200m to build.
Another £70m will also be spent on providing a further 400 extra places at Magilligan and Maghaberry prisons.Another £70m will also be spent on providing a further 400 extra places at Magilligan and Maghaberry prisons.
Mr Goggins also said it may be necessary to build a third adult male prison in Northern Ireland in the future.Mr Goggins also said it may be necessary to build a third adult male prison in Northern Ireland in the future.
Construction work at Magilligan is expected to start in 2011/12.Construction work at Magilligan is expected to start in 2011/12.
It will be built on a phased basis and could be completed by 2015.It will be built on a phased basis and could be completed by 2015.
"The plans I have announced today will meet the immediate need for extra prison places and will see a brand new prison built on the site of the existing Magilligan Prison," he said."The plans I have announced today will meet the immediate need for extra prison places and will see a brand new prison built on the site of the existing Magilligan Prison," he said.
Although the location of the jail is not the government's ideal choice, it is what it can afford.
Its remote location means access is a problem. The site is 71 miles from Belfast, where a majority of prisoners in Northern Ireland come from.
The existing jail on the site was built in 1972 and the accommodation consists of a combination of H-blocks, WWII Nissan huts and portable huts.The existing jail on the site was built in 1972 and the accommodation consists of a combination of H-blocks, WWII Nissan huts and portable huts.
Prison populationPrison population
A number of reports have criticised the facilities and its location, and said the prison should be closedA number of reports have criticised the facilities and its location, and said the prison should be closed
The existing prisons for men, at Magilligan and Maghaberry near Moira, cannot cope with the growing prison population.The existing prisons for men, at Magilligan and Maghaberry near Moira, cannot cope with the growing prison population.
Seven years ago, following the early prisoner releases under the Good Friday Agreement, there were fewer than 900 prisoners in Northern Ireland.Seven years ago, following the early prisoner releases under the Good Friday Agreement, there were fewer than 900 prisoners in Northern Ireland.
But recently, the figure was just over 1,500 and that is expected to rise to more than 1,600 within two years.But recently, the figure was just over 1,500 and that is expected to rise to more than 1,600 within two years.
The government forecasts that the prison population could be as high as 2,700 by 2022.The government forecasts that the prison population could be as high as 2,700 by 2022.