I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 to 485, inclusive, together.
My officials in the Irish Prison Service have informed me that 11 prison locations operate tuck shop accounts with the Dóchas Centre included in the account for Mountjoy Prison.
The accounting information for the 11 prison locations is shown in the following table for 2017, which are the last audited figures.
Prison Location
|
Total 2017 Sales
|
Total 2017 Gross Profit
|
Arbour Hill
|
152,783
|
24,055
|
Castlerea
|
531,769
|
117,091
|
Cloverhill
|
654,664
|
76,343
|
Cork
|
449,096
|
88,106
|
Limerick
|
447,012
|
94,441
|
Loughan House
|
96,404
|
9,968
|
Midlands
|
1,279,707
|
186,842
|
Mountjoy (incl. Dochas)
|
1,161,856
|
161,812
|
Portlaoise
|
477,119
|
27,236
|
Shelton Abbey
|
73,987
|
12,308
|
Wheatfield
|
695,738
|
102,543
|
Total
|
6,020,135
|
900,745
|
The profits arising from sales in the prison Shops are transferred to the Prisoner Assist Programme to fund projects for the benefit of the prisoners, in a planned and co-ordinated way.
The operating and governance arrangements for the tuck shops are included in Irish Prison Service procedure ACC.005.001 (Tuck Shop Account Procedures) issued in April 2014; this procedure is in the following link for information purposes. Stock control and stocktaking arrangements are included in this procedure.
Tuck shops are subject to reviews of compliance with procedures by the Irish Prison Service Finance & Estates Directorate and are included in audits of prisons undertaken by the Internal Audit Unit of my Department and by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, both of whom audit two to three prisons each year.
It is Irish Prison Service policy that products are sold in the tuck shops at Recommended Retail Price as advised by the contracted supplier.
Tuck Shop Account