asked the Minister for Justice the weekly cost, including the cost of food, heating, clothing and supervision, of keeping a person in prison.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prisoner Maintenance Cost.
24.
The weekly cost is estimated at £16. 13. Od.
Glory be to God, would it not be better to pay that to those men to keep them out of jail? I imagine most of them would not turn to crime if they got that outside.
Paying prisoners to commit crime is a new proposition.
Pay them not to commit it.