Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:104 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to adequately fund the new strategy of the Irish Prison Service. [22669/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 8 May 2012
Ceisteanna (56)
Freagraí scríofa
The new three year strategic plan includes concrete and practical, if ambitious, targets. Its key objectives include delivering reform and implementing change in accordance with the Croke Park Public Service Agreement and the Integrated Reform Plan for the Justice Sector.
The 2012 current operational budget for the Prison Service is €293.7m. Approximately 80% of this budget is required for payroll costs. The balance is used to fund services for prisoners, maintenance of infrastructure (estate and IT systems), compensation and administrative costs. Since 2009, the Prison Service budget has faced increasing pressure. Recognising this economic environment, decisive action was taken by Prison Service management to reduce, as far as possible, discretionary spend, implement cost cutting measures and deliver efficiencies. Elements of the new strategy together with the Transformation Process under the Public Service Agreement are specifically designed to continue this process of change. The Transformation Process involves a detailed review of all tasks and an assessment of the appropriate management structures and staffing levels. Transformation also provides the Prison Service with the opportunity to refocus on prisoner progression and prisoner programmes. Through engagement with other statutory agencies and the community and voluntary sector, the Prison Service will lead the way in ensuring a more efficient use of scarce resources and develop synergies which will provide more comprehensive and effective sentence management programmes for prisoners.
The Deputy may also wish to note that I have allocated €132.5m from the Justice Capital Envelope 2012 to 2016 to the Prison Service Building Programme. As I announced last November, the Prison Service has been allocated a capital envelope of €24.1m for 2012. This will be spent on the completion of the new prison wing in the Midlands Prison and the provision of in cell sanitation in the B and C wings in Mountjoy. Work has recently commenced on the B wing and it is anticipated that it will be completed by the end of the year.