'Progress' on new £150m NI prison

A number of reports have criticised the facilities at Magilligan

The government is finalising plans for a new £150m high security prison in Northern Ireland, the BBC has learned.

The government is due to make an announcement early next year about its plans for a new prison to replace Magilligan in County Londonderry.

The preferred option is a new prison with up to 1,000 individual cells to house high risk offenders.

One option is to build the new prison on the site at Magilligan, which has been criticised over conditions.

However, government owned land in Ballymena, Craigavon and near Cookstown is also being considered.

BBC Northern Ireland home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney said: "A number of reports have criticised the facilities at Magilligan and recommended that its three H blocks are demolished.

"But it isn't just about conditions.

"The total capacity at the three prisons here is 1,500 - but the number of prisoners is expected to be more than 1,600 within three years.

"Even if the money for the new prison is made available early next year - it could be more than five years before it is ready to open."