Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2010
255 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost of keeping one prisoner in St. Patrick’s Institution, Dublin, for one year; if health and education schemes are available to these prisoners; if prisoners receive a daily monetary allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5452/10]
View answerThe average annual cost of providing an available, staffed prison space in St Patrick's Institution was €101,590 in 2008; figures for 2009 are not yet available.
St Patrick's Institution offers a diverse range of general and specialist services provided both by the Irish Prison Service and in-reaching statutory and non-statutory services. Among these are healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, educational, vocational, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These services are important in addressing offending behaviour, drug and alcohol addiction, missed educational and vocational opportunities, anger management and self-management in the interest of encouraging positive personal development in prisoners and preparing them for re-integration and resettlement on release from custody.
The current rate of gratuity payable to prisoners is €2.35 per day.
