Dáil Éireann - Volume 477 - 09 April, 1997

Written Answers. - Prison Costs.

Mr. H. Byrne Mr. H. Byrne

667

[667] 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]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen) Nora Owen

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen): 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:

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

Dáil Éireann 477 Written Answers. Prison Costs.

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