Criminal Justice (Hansard, 13 May 2002)

§ Mr. Browne

I am sorry for the delay in answering.

Two construction projects are planned for the use of the Juvenile Justice Board (scheduled to become the Youth Justice Agency with effect from April 2003). The projects relate to the rationalisation of the Juvenile Justice Estate and were announced in Parliament by the then Northern Ireland Minister of State, Adam Ingram on 29 November 2000.

The first project, phase I, involves upgrading security and refurbishing the accommodation on the existing Rathgael site in Bangor, to facilitate the closure of Lisnevin. The construction project is scheduled to be completed by autumn 2002. The contract was awarded as a design and build project at a tender cost of £2.8 million. Private sector involvement in phase I relates to the appointment of a design team and main building contractor. No provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems and other symbols on the exterior and interior of buildings within this project.

The second project, phase 2, is the provision of a new, purpose designed centre, also to be located on land at Rathgael. When fully commissioned, the new centre will replace the phase I facility. Planning the phase 2 project is at a very early stage. It is estimated to take about four to five years to complete the project. It is not possible to give an accurate estimated cost, but based on similar facilities, it is anticipated that the cost should be in the region of £12 million to £15 million. In keeping with Government policy, we will be examining various procurement methods including PFI/PPP. It is intended to utilise various expertise from the private sector to establish the most cost-effective method of procuring this facility. The extent of their involvement will become clearer once the project has been properly scoped and all the issues addressed as part of the outline business case.

As in phase 1, no provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems and other symbols on the exterior and interior of buildings within this project.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has three construction projects planned at present, a new inmates kitchen at HMP Maghaberry, at a cost of £1.9 million which will be completed in October 2003. New programmes village at HMP Magilligan at a cost of £1 million which will be completed in December 2002 and a new visitors reception at HM YOC Hydebank at a cost of £800,000 which is due for completion in January 2003.

A private sector contractor will be involved in the design and construction of the inmates kitchen at HMP Maghaberry. The remaining projects will involve the private sector in the construction phase only. No provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems, and other symbols on the exterior or interior of the buildings.

The Northern Ireland Court Service is at the very early stage of plans to build new courthouses in Lisburn and North Down with anticipated completion dates of 2005 and 2006 respectively. Public private partnership is the preferred funding route and, in this event, the only costs incurred at completion would be consultancy from the 470W private sector estimated at £500,000. All construction work will be carried out by the private sector. Construction work for a courthouse in Dungannon is already under way and is due for completion in November this year, at an approximate cost of £11 million. This is not a public private partnership project. Provision for the display of flags, emblems or other symbols at these venues will be in accordance with Government policy as articulated in the Criminal Justice Review Implementation Plan and the Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill. The practical steps to give effect to this policy would be taken at the appropriate stage in the construction project.

The Northern Ireland Office has entered into an agreement with the Northern Ireland Bar to rent a new headquarters building for the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The building is currently being constructed by Bar Library Services Ltd. and is due to be completed by 31 December 2002.

As part of the Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland the DPP will be undertaking an exercise to consider the development of offices outside Belfast. The extent and number of such have not yet been identified.

The Government's policy on the display of flags at Government buildings is set out in the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. The display of emblems and other symbols is in accordance with the Belfast Agreement which acknowledged the sensitivity of the use of symbols for public purposes, and the need to ensure that such symbols are used in a manner which promotes mutual respect rather than division.