Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reduce daily payments to prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22678/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Irish Prison Service that a review of the prisoner gratuity payments and allowances system has been completed. The review covered all aspects of the current scheme including the daily allowance and approved work allowance. On foot of this review it is proposed that three different levels of daily gratuity be introduced, with the rates being paid dependent on behaviour and level of engagement in structured activities and sentence plans. Under the proposal prisoners who are well behaved and engage actively with services should not see any substantive reduction in their gratuity payments. It is also proposed to regularise the payment of working gratuities across the prison estate and only activities where prisoners provide services which would otherwise result in a cost to the prison service, such as catering and laundry, would qualify for the payment. It is envisaged that the new scheme will result in an overall cost saving to the State. I expect that the new scheme will be finalised shortly.