To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the proposed shared Police, Fire and Prison Service training facility at Desertcreat.

Development of a joint training college for the police, Prison Service and Fire and Rescue Service is a Programme for Government commitment. Decisions on this will be taken by the Executive.

At a recent meeting of the programme’s Steering Group, the three Services reiterated their commitment to some form of integration but expressed concern at the impact of budget reductions on their long term training requirements and their ability to meet future running costs.

As a result, the Steering Group has commissioned a two stage review. The first stage will involve the Programme Board urgently establishing what the present position means for the current procurement process. This will be completed within a short, two-week timescale. During this period, the Programme Board will also firm up the scope of the second stage review which will, inter alia, re-affirm the training requirements of the three Services and the scope for integration; review underlying assumptions; and establish what is appropriate, affordable and deliverable in the current budgetary climate.