Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
196 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the annual cost of keeping prisoners in each prison; and his views on whether this expenditure is effective from the point of view of the prisoners and cost effective from the point of view of the State. [34067/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe average cost of keeping an offender for the year 2003 is as follows:
|
Institution |
Cost per prisoner € |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
73,600 |
|
Castlerea Prison |
75,250 |
|
Cork Prison |
72,350 |
|
Cloverhill Prison |
83,300 |
|
Curragh Place of Detention |
70,100 |
|
Fort Mitchel Place of Detention |
96,050 |
|
Limerick Prison |
90,200 |
|
Loughan House Place of Detention |
67,700 |
|
Midlands Prison |
77,300 |
|
Mountjoy Prison (incl. Dóchas Centre) |
97,900 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
232,100 |
|
Shelton Abbey Place of Detention |
80,100 |
|
St. Patrick’s Institution |
82,300 |
|
Training Unit Place of Detention |
71,800 |
|
Wheatfield Prison |
75,800 |
The cost per prisoner is based on the average daily number of offenders in those institutions during 2003. The operational cost of each institution is based on actual running costs, that is, pay, overtime, food, light and heat, maintenance, etc. These costs include certain items which are fixed no matter what the number of offenders in custody is, e.g. staffing numbers, utilities, etc. All headquarters and central service costs are allocated over the prison establishments for the purpose of this calculation. Capital expenditure is excluded from the calculation.
The Irish Prison Service operates a humane prisoner regime with a high level of out of cell time and access to health, education, work training, psychology and other rehabilitative services. It is constantly striving to ensure it delivers value for money to the State. In 2004, for the first time in years, I reversed the upward trend in prison officer overtime and achieved significant savings. In this context discussions between the prison service and the Prison Officers' Association in relation to eliminating overtime are close to being concluded. I am hopeful that an agreement will be finalised shortly and that staff will ballot for acceptance.
