90 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Justice if the proposal to have a committal assessment centre in the Dublin area, as recommended by the Advisory Group on Prison Deaths, is being acted on, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Advisory Group on Prison Deaths considered that, of the suicides which occur in prisons a disproportionate number take place while prisoners are on remand or in the early stages of their sentences and they recommended that a Committal Assessment Centre be established in Dublin. At any given time the number of offenders in custody on remand is about 150 and the Advisory Group acknowledged that their recommendation was a long term proposal since its implementation would involve "either major expenditure or major reorganisation of the present prison system".

As I announced recently I am having a major policy document on prisons prepared, a document which will up-date the aims and objectives of the prison system, determine priorities which need to be addressed and set out the strategy to achieve them. The question of providing an assessment centre may be expected to be considered in that context.