Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 3

Written Answers. - Prison Costs.

Ivor Callely

Question:

122 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the total cost of Shelton Abbey Prison in 1996; if she will give a breakdown in this regard; the cost per week of keeping a prisoner in Shelton Abbey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9289/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen):

The total current cost of operating Shelton Abbey in 1996 amounted to approximately £1.981 million or £778 per week per offender. In addition, £0.208 million was expended on capital works. The current cost can be broken down further as follows;

	£ million
Pay	1.072
Overtime	0.250
Non-pay	0.400
Other costs*	0.259

* For the purposes of calculating the cost of keeping an offender, costs incurred outside of the prisons such as the Prison Service Training Centre, the Staff Welfare Service and items paid for centrally as well as teachers salaries and prison staff superannuation are also included.