THE STATE is spending more than €120,000 a year on maintenance and security for the Thornton Hall prison site, the Dáil has heard.

Construction of the prison on farmland has been postponed indefinitely due to the economic climate, and the Opposition questioned the need for such security.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan questioned the payment “when there is nothing on the site to be secured”.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said “the State must protect its property”.

“This is a very significant piece of property, so there are ongoing security issues in regard to it given that it will be a sensitive site when it is built on.”

Labour justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte said “generally it is not necessary to protect farmland in Ireland. Why is it necessary to protect this farm? Having already spent €40 million on the project, why should we spend more taxpayers’ money for a site on a farm in north Dublin which is not suitable for this purpose and may never be realised in the Minister’s or my political lifetime?”

Mr Ahern replied: “It is only right and proper that the State would protect its interest in this particular site.”

“From what threat?” asked Mr Flanagan.

“Rabbits,” said Denis Naughten (FG, Roscommon-South Leitrim). He also asked how much of the costs were for “the pruning of the shrubs and trees planted on a substantial acreage of the site”.

The Minister did not have that information, but insisted when the buildings were built it would “be a sensitive site” and it was “right and proper” to protect it. If trespassers “were on the site the deputies opposite would be here criticising the fact that people were allowed to go on the site”.