£3.7m for prison building

THE Minister for Justice last night said she "welcomed" the £3

THE Minister for Justice last night said she "welcomed" the £3.7 million provided in the Budget for prison building a Ms Owen said this extra money, oil top of the £14 million she has already provided in her prisons' budget, would "allow her to complete proposals on prison spaces"

These include a partial revival of the plan to open a prison in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, which could hold 120 prisoners, and a plan to build a new women's prison at Mountjoy, Dublin, which would make more spaces available in the main prison.

The Department of Justice also drew attention to the £800 tax relief at the standard rate to help people aged 65 and over and living alone with the cost installing burglar alarm