When the Minister for Agriculture and Food answered questions earlier, she told us that one fifth of all farm land is now leased. As we know, one of the reasons is that the cost of purchasing farm land is so exorbitant. Does the Taoiseach and his Government accept some of the responsibility in this regard? One area in rural County Dublin has a price tag of €200,000 per acre based on the plans for the relocation of Mountjoy Prison. Does the Taoiseach accept that the price of €30 million for 150 acres is considerably more than the going rate of €17,000 per acre? Even with a compulsory purchase order, the National Roads Authority would pay a maximum of €24,000 per acre after capital gains tax. Does the Taoiseach accept that a serious problem is being created by taking the eye off the ball when it comes to agricultural land acquisition for which the Government is responsible?

Is that fiasco not being compounded by the second annual report of the inspector of prisons, which was published recently? That indicated that relocation was not the only option, even through the inspector, Mr. Kinlan, wrote that he had witnessed very low standards in the running of prisons. Whom does the Taoiseach hold responsible for this? Does he regard the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as being responsible for driving this relocation project, for placing no limit on the money that could be spent on it and for not seeking an environmental impact assessment on such a large site, which would be normal practice? Does the Taoiseach also regard the Minister as being responsible for not investigating the breach of normal procurement procedures when a member of the extended family, who was the special adviser, was found to be related to the vendor of the site? Would he regard the Minister as being responsible for stigmatising people with mental illness who, in the Central Mental Hospital, will find themselves living beside Mountjoy Prison if it is relocated? The Taoiseach should investigate this matter and put it on hold. Will he do so?

The Deputy asked me about two issues. His first question concerned the statement by the Minister for Agriculture and Food that 1% of agricultural land is being made available for the market. That is a matter for the market. I cannot force people who own agricultural land to sell it. If they wish to use it for agricultural purposes, that is a matter for them. If I were to bring proposals to the House for the compulsory acquisition of agricultural land, we would see what the difficulty would be, apart from the fact that it would be unconstitutional.

That is the Taoiseach's philosophy.

Please allow the Taoiseach to continue.

I thought the Taoiseach was a socialist.

A committed socialist.

Deputy Rabbitte would not support me on that measure if I, or anybody else, brought it to the House.

On the Deputy's second question, it has long been pointed out that we need prison accommodation to replace Mountjoy. It has been highlighted by many reports over many decades, not to mention Judge Kinlan's recent report. A long process was entered into, which included the examination of suitable sites, to try to find one large enough to replace Mountjoy with a modern facility appropriate for the inmates and close enough to Dublin from where a large proportion of prisoners come. It had to be capable of being built in such a way as to seclude it from other lands by properly protecting it. That is what the Government decided and it is what the Minister is following through on.

It amazes me to hear the Taoiseach decrying compulsory purchase orders when the National Roads Authority uses such orders with impunity. I do not regard them as a significant problem, except perhaps in the sense that people may complain they are not getting enough for their land. Why would they complain, however, when sums of €200,000 per acre are offered? Why is the Taoiseach standing over such a gross overspend of public money?

The Mountjoy site has a new women's prison, €10 million has been spent on a training centre in St. Patrick's Institution and capital expenditure of €6 million has been spent on Spike Island which is to be closed down. Questions have arisen regarding a conflict of interest in the deal for the prison site which I understand could have been settled for much less. Will the Taoiseach ensure the Comptroller and Auditor General is made aware of this? It is a matter of public interest that he be informed and investigate what appears to be a strange purchase.

Will the Taoiseach insist that an environmental impact assessment is carried out given that the relevant directive appears to indicate that one is required for an area of this size? They are definitely necessary if a planning application is required. Does the Taoiseach realise he will be in trouble again with the European Court of Justice unless he insists such an assessment is carried out?

Perhaps some land costs €200,000 per acre and other land is worth far more. We have seen sites in this and other cities——

Is the Taoiseach referring to Abbotstown?

In general, land prices have gone up from under €5,000 per acre ten years ago to about €14,000 per acre now. That is the going rate rather than the prices which have been mentioned. Sometimes trying to relocate a prison is difficult while at other times relocation is welcomed. I was Minister for Finance some years ago when a prison was opened in Roscommon. People were very glad to see the prison there, with employment and other knock-on effects of the move.

Deputy Sargent will agree that Mountjoy Prison, with the exception of the women's prison which is a new building, has long outlived its use. It has been condemned in report after report as not being suitable to deal with the population it has and not having the kind of facilities which are required.

The Government recently spent €10 million on St. Patrick's Institution.

Obviously, relevant matters relating to planning and environmental impact assessments will be looked at in due course by the officials involved in trying to make this a proper location.

An environmental impact assessment will be carried out.