To ask the Minister of Justice for his assessment of the need for a new build at HMP Magilligan; and what conversations he has had with the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding capital funding availability for a new build.

I consider the construction of a new prison at Magilligan essential to enable NIPS to deliver the requisite programmes to address re-offending behaviour; to meet Disability Discrimination Act standards; and to replace the existing infrastructure, which has outlived its useful life and is expensive and inefficient to staff, maintain and operate.

An outline business case for the Redevelopment of Magilligan Prison was approved by the Department of Finance and Personnel in January 2015.

I met with the then Finance Minister, Simon Hamilton, in April 2015 to emphasise the importance of securing funding for the Redevelopment of Magilligan Project. However Mr Hamilton was unable to give any commitment to funding until longer term capital budgets have been agreed by the Executive.