Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland is the only Council of Europe member State in which work undertaken by prisoners is unpaid; his plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37923/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy it is not factually correct that work undertaken by prisoners in Irish prisons is unpaid. All prisoners are eligible for a daily gratuity whether or not they carry out prison work, which is not the case in many other countries, and prisoners in most prisons may earn additional gratuities by carrying out certain types of work. The current rate of the daily gratuity is €2.35. The additional gratuity for prison work is typically paid in the form of vouchers which can be used to purchase goods in the prison tuck shop. The levels of additional gratuity are set by the governor in each institution. The current rate averages approximately €10 per week. I should point out also that most forms of work in Irish prisons offer an opportunity to avail of accredited training.

A review of the gratuity payments and allowances system has recently been completed by the Irish Prison Service. I am currently considering the recommendations arising from this review.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Is it correct to say that every prisoner receives a daily gratuity and those who undertake additional work are paid in vouchers?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Is it proposed to change that practice? I refer to the Irish Prison Service recommendation. For example, I am not paid in vouchers for my work as a TD and I am sure the Minister is not paid in vouchers for his work. I do not think it is fair to say that prisoners are being paid when they are given vouchers to spend in the tuck shop or whatever. I would not regard this as the same as being paid for work undertaken.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The moneys which prisoners receive go into a fund and it is available for them to use in prison if they wish by way of the tuck shop or other expenditure. It is also open to them to have it transmitted to family members if they wish.

People are in prison for a particular reason. It is a privilege that in return for work done they receive some small additional benefit, if I could put it that way. Certainly, the State is not in a position - I do not believe there would be any public support of any nature - for large sums of money to be paid to persons convicted of offences and sentenced to terms of imprisonment. It is extremely costly to the taxpayer to keep prisoners in prison and in that context, some people would be of the view that prisoners should contribute to that cost by work they carry out in prison. What prisoners receive is a nominal gratuity on a daily basis which ensures that prisoners can avail of certain benefits or purchase certain items in the tuck shop which may not otherwise be available to them and which, in particular, impecunious prisoners would not be able to afford otherwise. Arrangements can be made and are made on occasions for family members to furnish funds to prisoners to assist them in that regard. There is no question of any nature whatever of this State putting in place, during the lifetime of this Government, any substantial payments to prisoners in return for work done. These are extra gratuities to allow prisoners to avail of certain basic items in prison that are additional to the food provided or to purchase cigarettes or whatever. There is no question of going beyond that.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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No one is suggesting we pay prisoners large sums for work they do in the prison system. I am sure the Minister is well aware that is not what I meant. Will consideration be given to moving from giving vouchers to those who engage in work in prison to giving them the value of the vouchers? As the Minister noted, some prisoners send money to family members outside the prison system. No one is suggesting prisoners be paid the same wage as employees outside the prison system. I simply ask that consideration be given to giving prisoners the monetary value of the vouchers.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am giving consideration to the review that has been undertaken. In so far as there are changes to be made, they will be made appropriately. However, I do not envisage major changes and certainly not any changes that will result in any additional expense to taxpayers at a time when the funding available to the Government is extremely limited.