The Irish Prison Service has spent a significant amount of money maintaining an unused site intended for a 'super-prison' that was never built. The 2004 purchase price was deemed excessive, and the site's value has considerably decreased since then.
The Irish Prison Service has incurred expenses exceeding €114,000 over the past three years on a vacant site acquired more than two decades ago for a proposed 'super-prison' that was never materialized. The government initially purchased the Thornton Hall site in 2004 for a substantial €29 million, deemed 'grossly excessive' at the time. Recent valuations estimate the land's worth at €6.5 million.
Despite its unutilized status, the Irish Prison Service continues to shoulder annual upkeep costs of approximately €40,000. A detailed breakdown of expenditures between 2022 and 2024 reveals a significant outlay. Just over €36,000 was dedicated to gas network costs, attributed to maintenance of a 'collapsed chamber' on site, as per directives from Gas Networks Ireland. An additional €28,000 financed the electricity supply to the main house on the property, ensuring power for security and heating systems. Other expenses included €1,599 for a site survey to delineate the state's landholding in north Dublin. Water charges amounted to €4,832, while a site valuation report, costing the taxpayer nearly €14,000, concluded that the site's value falls short of a quarter of the initial purchase price. Furthermore, there were maintenance costs of approximately €27,000 allocated to repair boundary and perimeter security, along with planned preventative maintenance. A digital security bill of €2,420 covered the provision of a remote access CCTV system.The Thornton Hall site was initially acquired as part of a failed initiative by the Department of Justice to construct a 'super-prison,' aiming to close Mountjoy Jail and redevelop its prime location. The site remained dormant for two decades until the government announced plans last year for a tented camp housing 1,000 international protection applicants. However, this proposal faced fierce opposition from local residents, leading to a High Court challenge that significantly jeopardized the project. Regarding the ongoing expenditure, the Irish Prison Service stated that the Thornton Hall site boasts full servicing and substantial investment in a major access road during its initial development. They confirmed a two-year licence agreement for the use of 30 acres of the site, intended for accommodation for international protection applicants, commencing last year. A spokesperson emphasized: 'The site remains of strategic interest to the State, and the Irish Prison Service has a legal obligation to secure and maintain the Thornton Hall site.' They also highlighted that the site includes a 'Protected Structure,' for which the Prison Service is legally obligated to ensure security and maintenance. Finally, the spokesperson added that a licence agreement with a local farmer since 2023 for land lease 'partially offsets' their ongoing costs
IRISH PRISON SERVICE THORNTON HALL SUPER-PRISON EXPENSES LAND VALUE INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION APPLICANTS
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