Expenditure on dealing with asylum-seekers and illegal immigrants is the fastest-growing element of the Estimate for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, writes Jim Cusack, Security Editor.
Yesterday's Estimates show substantial growth in the Department's expenditure on dealing with these issues. The figure has risen from £9.227 million in the 2000 estimates to £35.666 million for 2001.
The 2001 Estimate includes £27.108 million for the setting up of the asylum-seeker task force and £8.558 million for legal aid for asylum-seekers.
Provision for spending on prisons has risen by 13 per cent to an estimated £228.034 million in 2001. This covers the continuing prison expansion scheme, including the provision of 700 new spaces in jails in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, Limerick and Cork.
The Estimates also provide for an additional 50 probation and welfare staff members. Recruitment has begun and it is expected that the new posts will be filled by next year.
As is traditional, the Justice estimate includes the Secret Service account. This is money paid to people who supply information to the Garda. The figure for 2001 remains unchanged on this year at £735,000.