THE Prison Officers' Association (POA) has questioned the Government's commitment to providing a full scale, closed prison in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.
The association says it will only back the Government's interim proposal to develop a prison in Castlerea for 25 low risk prisoners within three months on the clear understanding that the original plan for a closed prison on the site goes ahead.
Speaking after a visit to the partially constructed jail yesterday, the POA spokesman, Mr Tom Hoare, said his association was concerned that money required for the immediate construction of cell blocks was not being provided in 1996.
"The failure in providing resources raises concerns about the Government commitment to seriously and urgently tackle the crime problem, the crisis in Irish jails and resulting risks to the public."
Mr Hoare said the POA was not satisfied that the Government was showing sufficient commitment to tackling the problem of prison accommodation when 1,000 extra places were required to deal with "the revolving door scenario".
He also queried the number of extra places that would be provided this year.
The POA believed that in vestment of up to £4 million in contracts for Castlerea should have been placed this year, rather than a mere £100,000 to modify existing plans, Mr Hoare said.
The 20 member national executive of the POA met in Castlerea yesterday so that representatives could report back to members in various institutions before a decision is made on operating the new facility, he added.
The venue for the meeting was also an acknowledgment of the Castlerea Development Co-op's campaign for a secure closed prison.