Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent annually on the accommodation of prisoners; the number of prison bed nights the State pays for annually; his plans to reduce this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10052/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that the figure for the annual cost of an available staffed prison space during 2013 is not yet available as the financial information is not due to be finalised till the end of March 2014. This information will be published on the Irish Prison Service website in the second quarter of 2014. The annual cost of an available staffed prison space during 2012, which is the latest year for which a figure is available, was €65,404. The comparative figure for 2011 was €65,359.

The Deputy may be aware that the average number of prisoners in custody has been decreasing since 2011. Consequently the number of prison bed nights has reduced from 1,603,448 in 2011 to 1,577,150 in 2012 and reduced further to 1,518,710 in 2013.

As part of our Strategic Plan 2012-2015, the Irish Prison Service is seeking to align the existing bed capacity of the Irish Prison Service to that recommended by the Inspector of Prisons in so far as this is compatible with public safety and the integrity of the criminal justice system. The bed capacity of 6 prisons have been aligned with the Inspector of Prisons' recommended figures, namely, Mountjoy Male, Dochas, St. Patrick's, Portlaoise, Loughan House and Shelton Abbey. In addition, in Cork Prison the bed capacity has been reduced from 290 to 210 and in Limerick prison the male capacity has been reduced from 290 to 220.

As many prisoners as possible released early from custody are placed on appropriate structured programmes of temporary release, including the Community Return Programme.