Prisoner upkeep soars three times rate of inflation to €90,900

THE cost of keeping people in prison increased by three times the rate of inflation last year, according to official figures.

The cost per prisoner jumped from €83,800 in 2004 to €90,900 in 2005 — a rise of 8%, compared with an annual inflation rate of 2.5% last year.

The 2005 annual report of the Irish Prison Service also showed that: