Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in respect of a contract for a company (details supplied) for work carried out by women prisoners in Mountjoy Prison; the amount the State is paid for this work; the amount the prisoners are paid; if there are other such contracts for work carried out in Irish prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34759/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Women prisoners in the Dochas Centre are not currently involved in any arrangements with the company referred to in the Deputy's question. I understand that a limited number of women prisoners were voluntarily involved in some assembly activity in connection with the company concerned in the past but that this arrangement ceased some time ago.

There is a very limited provision, through arrangements with private entities, of voluntary occupational opportunities for a small number of prisoners in two other institutions. Payments made by the firms concerned are in line with what is payable for such activities in the community.