Vol. 513 No. 4
203 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prison places available; the number of new places becoming available over the next 12 to 18 months; the cost of the provision of a prison place; the annual revenue costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2677/00]
There are approximately 3,060 prison places available at present. Approximately 400 more will come on stream within the next ten weeks or so with the completion of remedial works at Cloverhill Prison. A further 631 places will become available over the follow ing 18 months at the following locations: midlands, 515; Castlerea, 50 and Limerick, 66.
The cost of providing a prison place in our latest prison is approximately £91,000. The average cost of keeping an offender in custody is £53,400 per annum, 80% of which is made up of pay and overtime. The average cost in a new prison is likely to be significantly less due to greater use of technology and better design, both of which impact on the number of staff posts required daily.
