Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2010
34 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the cost in 2009 of maintaining a young person for one year in St. Patrick’s Institution; the way this compares with costs for 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28361/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Prison Service publishes the average cost of an available, staffed prison space under three headings — Open Prisons, Closed Prisons and High Security Prisons. St. Patrick's Institution is a Closed Prison.
The average cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year 2009 will be published in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report for 2009 which is due to be published shortly. However, provisional figures indicate that the average cost of an available, staffed prison space in a Closed Prison during the calendar year 2009 was €79,308 compared to €90,837 in 2008, a decrease of €11,529 or 12.7%. The figure for 2007 was €82,662. The average cost of keeping an offender in St. Patrick's Institution specifically was €94,164 in 2009, €101,590 in 2008 and €91,031 in 2007.
The figures stated have all been calculated using the revised methodology for measuring costs. The revised methodology used since 2008 is of greater benefit in the financial management of the Service than the one previously used as it facilitates the strategic measuring and comparing of costs across the prison estate.
