Written answers
Thursday, 25 September 2014
Department of Justice and Equality
Prison Accommodation Provision
Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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115. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the annual costs of running the prison service for each year since 2005; and the average cost per person imprisoned in each of those years. [36177/14]
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The annual costs of running the prison service for each year since 2005 and the average cost per person imprisoned in each of those years is captured in the following table. The figures presented for 2013 are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and may be subject to change.
| YEAR | Cost of Running Prison Service - (€000) | Cost of Keeping an Offender- (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 334,931 | 90,900 |
| 2006 | 387,240 | 91,700 |
| 2007 | 373,055 | 97,700 |
| YEAR | Cost of Running Prison Service - (€000) | Cost per Available, Staffed Prison Space - (€)* |
| 2008 | 402,318 | 92,717 |
| 2009 | 357,827 | 77,222 |
| 2010 | 317,109 | 70,513 |
| 2011 | 330,149 | 65,359 |
| 2012 | 316,805 | 65,404 |
| 2013 | 304,967 | 65,542 |
*Cost per Available, Staffed Prison Space.
It should be noted that the methodology for measuring costs across the prison estate was reviewed in 2008. The previous approach (Cost of Keeping an Offender) did not give consideration to the various factors that drive costs.
The revised methodology is of greater benefit in the financial management of the Service than the one previously used as it facilitates the strategic measuring and comparing of costs across the prison estate. It also excludes costs which are not under the direct control of the Irish Prison Service, for example, teachers salaries.
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