Prisoner foodcosts just £953per year

THE average annual cost of feeding a prisoner in Northern Ireland is just £953, although the most recent estimated cost per prisoner per year here is £77k, suggesting staffing, energy, utility and other overheads make up the remaining £76k.

Justice Minister David Ford revealed it costs just £2.60 a day to feed prisoners in HMP Magilligan, Maghaberry and Hydebank.

But in 2010 it was revealed by the Minister that the average annual cost of housing a prisoner here was a whopping £77k, much higher than in Great Britain.

So apart from food, each prisoner costs the people of Northern Ireland £76k a year.

Mr Ford told UUP MLA tom Elliott: “During the most recent full financial year where audited costs are available (ie 2011/12) the average daily cost of food per prisoner was £2.61.”