Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
834. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39976/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra835. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39977/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra836. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39978/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra837. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39979/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra838. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39980/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra839. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison, broken down by category including the costs related to food, transport, staffing, education, utilities, accommodation and any other significant costing. [39981/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra844. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the prisoner to staff ratio within the Irish Prison Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39990/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra845. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the prisoner to staff ratio within the Irish Prison Service, broken down by prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39991/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra863. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of people currently employed within the Irish prison service, broken down by role and by prison/ office location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40017/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 834, 835, 836, 837, 838, 839, 844, 845 and 863 together.
I am advised that the average cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison cannot be broken down into the categories requested by the Deputy, as to collate and calculate that specific information would require a physical examination of records which would take an inordinate amount of time and resources.
However, I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the average annual cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year is set out below for the last five years. The below figures include net expenditure incurred within the year (such as salaries, utilities/maintenance, ICT, prison services etc.) excluding capital expenditure on buildings, ICT and vehicle purchases. The main reasons for the increasing costs relates to increased variable costs, including higher prisoner numbers, higher capacity, higher payroll costs and inflation.
|
Year |
Average Annual Cost of a Staffed Prison Space |
|
2025 |
€103,334 |
|
2024 |
€99,072 |
|
2023 |
€88,523 |
|
2022 |
€84,067 |
|
2021 |
€80,335 |
The allocation of staffing across the prison estate is based on the security and operational needs of each individual prison. The number of staff required is influenced by factors including, in particular, the numbers in custody, category of prisoner and regimes and a range of other factors, including the risks and needs associated with specific areas and particular offenders.
The total number of staff employed by the Irish Prison Service, as at 30 April 2026, is set out as below:
|
Period |
Prison Personnel |
Other Grades ** |
IPS Headquarters |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 April 2026 |
3762.5 |
69.07 |
212.51 |
4044.08 |
** Doctors, Psychology Staff, Occupational Therapists, Chaplains.
The total number of prison based staff to total prison population ratio within the Irish Prison Service as of end of April 2026 is:
0.56 (staff) : 1 (prisoner).
I am informed that the Irish Prison Service continually monitors the staffing requirements of the organisation and recruitment or promotion campaigns are put in place as required.
