While it cost €656,500 to run prison visiting committees in 2002, we have seen very little for our money. Aggregate costs have soared by 77% in the last three years. However, certain committees have far exceeded the average. The costs for the prison visiting committee in Cork have soared by 192% in the last three years, while those for the committee at Mountjoy Prison have soared by 122% and by 192% for the committee at the Curragh. Given that it is the very one the Minister wishes to close, it is ironic that the most frugal committee is that at Shanganagh which has seen its costs increase by only 19%. As with the Government's operation of the health service, there is nothing to show that initial and ongoing expenditure on prison visiting committees over the last three years represents money well spent.