IN spite of increasing pressure on the Government to react to public concern about serious crime, money will not be set aside in next week's Budget for the provision of a new prison.
While the Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, continues to prepare proposals for an overhaul of the prison system, political sources say they do not believe clearance will be given for the postponed prison at Castlerea, Co Roscommon, unless the project can be financed on a phased basis within existing budgetary limits in her Department.
The Minister is expected to bring proposals to Government shortly on how extra prison places might to provided within the present system. It is understood she intends to create further room for inmates in what has become underutilised space in Portlaoise Prison since the early release of republican prisoners.
Though public concern over crime is pulling pressure on politicians in all parties, it is believed that the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, will not be allocating the £20 million required to complete the Castlerea complex.
Amid Opposition criticism, the project was postponed last June in a Government move to control public spending, and it was decided also to defer "beyond 1996" a new women's prison for 60 inmates.