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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 3

Written Answers. - Prison Costs.

Hugh Byrne

Ceist:

11 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Justice the current average cost of maintaining a prisoner in each of the prisons and places of detention in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9109/97]

As I stated in my answer to written Question No. 191 on 5 March, the annual cost of the operation of the prison system per head of the prisoner population was approximately £46,500 in 1996, based on the 1996 provisional outturn. This figure excludes capital expenditure and expenditure not connected directly with the running of the prisons, such as costs incurred by the probation and welfare service. The figure does, however, include pay costs and relevant costs borne on other Votes, such as superannuation and teachers' salaries.

The estimated annual cost in respect of each institution in 1996 was as follows:

£

St. Patrick's Institution

39,166

Mountjoy

46,743

Portlaoise

104,268

Limerick

56,323

Shanganagh Castle

42,638

Shelton Abbey

40,442

Cork

34,691

Loughan House

33,640

Arbour Hill

40,097

Training Unit

37,314

Wheatfield

39,736

Fort Mitchel

43,908

It is further estimated that the approximate annual cost per offender in 1997 at the two new institutions will be as follows;

£

Castlerea

34,500

Curragh

36,500

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