Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 690: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of savings that were effected to date by the closure of the Curragh Prison and Fort Mitchell; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34161/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Overall, overtime expenditure for the Irish Prison Service was reduced from €58.9 million in 2003 to approximately €45.5 million in 2004. This saving can be attributed to a rigorous control of overtime in each institution. The overtime savings arising from the closure of Fort Mitchel and the Curragh places of detention, are also included in this figure.

It is difficult to quantify the precise savings related to the closure of the Curragh and Fort Mitchel. Staff who were redeployed from these prisons remain on the payroll. However, their redeployment has led to a reduction in overtime costs in the prisons to which they were redeployed and has contributed to the overall saving of approx. €13 million overtime in the Prison Service for 2004. In addition, savings were also achieved in the running costs of both institutions amounting to approximately €1.4 million.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 691: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the daily average number of prisoners in each of the State prisons and institutions; the capacity of each of these institutions; the number of prison staff in each institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34162/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The latest approved figures relating to the average number of prisoners in each of the State prisons and institutions are contained in the annual report for 2003 which was published recently. For ease of reference, these are set out in the following table:

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 692: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the state of negotiations with the Prison Officers Association on the industrial dispute on overtime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34163/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy will be aware that following extensive negotiations between the Irish Prison Service and the Prison Officers Association, a limited number of financial issues were the subject of a referral to arbitration, the hearings of which took place on 22 October and 1 November 2004. The arbitrator released his findings on Monday, 24 January 2005 and officials of the Irish Prison Service were engaged in further discussions with the Prison Officers Association at the Labour Relations Commission yesterday, Tuesday, 25 January 2005. Discussions are not yet concluded.