Planning for future of Magilligan Prison essential

East Derry SDLP Assembly Member John Dallat has asked the Minister for Justice to demonstrate that he is sincere in retaining a prison facility at Magillgan. During Question Time to the Minister for Justice the Assembly Member claimed he was doing his best to interpret the minister’s assurances on the future of the fail as positive and wanted to know what preparatory work has been done to give confidence to both the staff and the families of inmates that he is genuine in retaining the prison in Magilligan He told the Minister that citing lack of finance was no reason why preparatory work could not take place. He said: “It is in times of financial stringency that plans should be laid so that in the future when money is available those plans are at a stage where progress can take place rapidly and not be eclipsed by other projects that are deemed to be ‘shovel ready’. “I don’t want to see the uncertainty hanging over Magilligan become a reality through negligence and apathy on the part of the minister who must take a lead in preventing closure in the future. “There are no good reasons why all prison services should be centralised at Magaberry where there are serious issues which do not pertain to Magilligan and don’t have to. “Obviously the slashing of the North’s block grant and the uncertainty hanging over the assembly has a profound impact on all future development and that includes prison services but that is not an excuse for opting to do nothing. It is not a time for ducking and diving and adding to the uncertainty.”