Vol. 574 No. 5
224 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of hours of overtime available at Portlaoise Prison for 2002 and to date in 2003; the number of hours actually worked; the estimated cost of the hours available and the actual cost of the hours worked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27640/03]
The number of overtime hours budgeted by the Irish Prison Service for Portlaoise Prison in 2002 amounted to 248,612, costing approximately €6,995,942, and the actual number of overtime hours worked was 274,669, costing approximately €7,729,186.
The number of overtime hours budgeted by the Irish Prison Service for Portlaoise Prison for 2003 to date – 31 October 2003 – is 208,692, costing approximately €6,052,068, and the actual number of overtime hours worked for the same period is 241,505, costing approximately €7,003,645.
The overtime costs in the Prison Service have grown out of all control and are cannibalising funds allocated by the Oireachtas for major building, refurbishment and improvement of the prison service generally. Portlaoise itself has suffered the delay and deferral of capital projects to improve conditions for its inmates and staff due to the need to meet escalating overtime costs.
In excess of €60 million is being spent on overtime earnings of about 3,300 prison officers, which is considerably more this year than the overtime expenditure on the entire Garda force of 11,900 members. This cannot be allowed to continue. The Government has authorised me to take action in the event that an agreement on staffing arrangements cannot be achieved by the end of the year with the Prison Officers' Association, POA.
