Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My question relates to A7, compensation. There is a 14.5% increase on what was budgeted. From the Minister's response to the last question, I take it that this can be budgeted but whether that will all be used depends on the outturn at different stages. This means that the 2020 Estimate on this item is €9.5 million. Does this mean that basically this is not an outturn figure either so we are not really looking at like for like? I notice that the 2019 outturn figure was €3.85 million. How accurate is this? If we take it that the 14.5% increase is not used, is it reallocated within the subheads or does it just go back into a black hole in the Department of Finance?

My other question concerns A4, prisoner services, and A6, educational services. There is a 9.6% reduction in educational services and a 5% reduction in prisoner services. What will be the impact of this, particularly on educational services for prisoners and their ability to be rehabilitated and educated? What will be the impact if the full budget is used at €1.265 million? The other line in A7 has not been achieved. Can the money be reallocated to that? Is that likely to happen?