Peadar Tóibín
Question:1236. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of chaplains working in the Irish Prison Service. [1020/22]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1236. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of chaplains working in the Irish Prison Service. [1020/22]
View answer1239. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of whole-time and part-time chaplains in the Irish Prison Service, An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service; and the amount expended on chaplaincy services by each organisation in each of the past ten years to date. [1054/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1236 and 1239 together.
The Irish Prison Service’s Chaplaincy Service is an essential support for the whole prison community including prisoners, prison staff and families of prisoners. It offers a one-to-one support system and arranges bereavement support groups, counselling and courses in consultation with other services, and addresses the physical, social and spiritual needs of prisoners in a holistic way.
An Garda Síochána has 2 chaplains who are part-time. The Courts Service does not have a chaplaincy service.
The number of whole-time and part-time chaplains in the Irish Prison Service, An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service, and the amount expended on chaplaincy services by each organisation in each of the past ten years to date is set out in tabular form below.
Agency |
Whole-time Chaplains |
Part-time Chaplains |
Whole-time Locum Chaplains |
Part-time Locum Chaplains |
An Garda Síochána |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Courts Service |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Irish Prison Service |
18 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
Year |
An Garda Síochána Expenditure |
Courts Service Expenditure |
Irish Prison ServiceExpenditure |
2022 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2021 |
€45,000 |
0 |
€ 1,200,602.34 |
2020 |
€45,000 |
0 |
€ 1,231,426.69 |
2019 |
€25,000 |
0 |
€ 930,983.73 |
2018 |
€25,000 |
0 |
€ 988,313.29 |
2017 |
€25,000 |
0 |
€ 1,032,192.06 |
2016 |
€25,000 |
0 |
€ 895,948.50 |
2015 |
€25,000 |
0 |
€ 867,928.51 |
2014 |
€25,000 |
0 |
€ 845,085.25 |
2013 |
€25,000 |
0 |
€ 938,018.58 |