Andorra Approves 275K Euro Land Buy for Prison Mental Health Expansion

The Andorran government has approved the purchase of a plot of land next to the Centre Penitenciari de la Comella for 275,000 euros to enable future expansions, including a dedicated mental health unit.

The Council of Ministers endorsed the extraordinary credit bill on Wednesday, proposed by Justice and Interior Minister Ester Molné. The land, known as the Serrat Blanc plot, measures 1,782.97 square metres and borders the prison's perimeter wall. Of the total cost, 260,000 euros covers the land itself, with the remainder allocated to taxes and formalisation expenses. The bill will now go to the Consell General for approval.

Government officials described the move as part of a broader action plan to maintain dignified and functional conditions for inmates and staff. It addresses the steady rise in prisoners with mental health issues, which currently requires using part of the minors' unit for their care—a setup deemed inadequate.

The expansion will create space for a specialised mental health module, better supporting multidisciplinary work among nursing, psychology, and psychiatry staff, along with tailored incarceration regimes. It will also provide additional areas for general inmate activities to improve rehabilitation efforts, as current facilities fall short of demand.

Molné told the Consell General's Justice, Interior, and Institutional Affairs committee in early April that the initiative proceeds without immediate pressures or overcrowding, allowing for proactive planning.