Colm M. Hilliard
Question:442 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the extra spending of £49.2 million under subhead B of Vote 21 in the 1997 Estimates for the public service. [1463/97]
Written Answers. - Departmental Estimates.
The increased provision for 1987 under subhead B of Vote 21 — Prisons — of £49.201 million over the 1996 provision of £18.340 million is attributable to the accelerated prisons building programme which I am pursuing. This programme is designed to provide approximately 800 additional prison places over the period 1996 to 1998.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:443 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the large increase in expenditure under subhead F of Vote 20 in the 1997 Estimates for the public service. [1464/97]
Subhead F of Vote 20 provides for the acquisition of air support for the Garda Síochána. As it became possible to have contracts placed earlier than anticipated, the Estimates provision of £200,000, under this subhead in 1996, was increased to £1.8 million by way of Supplementary Estimates approved by the House on 10 December 1996. The provision in the 1997 Estimates under subhead F of Vote 20 is £2.55 million.
The reason for the increase in the 1997 Estimates relates to my announcement on 12 December 1996 that contracts valued at £5.5 million has been assigned for the purchase of a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft for the newly established Garda air support unit.