Since the start of last year, An Garda Síochána has spent almost €750,000 on clothes and food for detainees under its care, reports Breaking News.
According Irish regulations for inmates, gardaí must provide two light meals and a dinner to inmates throughout any 24-hour period.
According to a breakdown of expenses, An Garda Síochána had to pay €377,729 for suspects’ clothing and meals.
With €377,596 spent between January and the end of September, the total bill is probably going to be greater this year, reports Breaking News.
Gardaí stated that the total cost for 2023 and 2024 was €755,325 and that they could only give numbers that included both food and clothes.
Additionally, if an arrested individual has nothing appropriate to wear or if their current clothing is filthy or required for evidence, clothing must be given.
Records made available under FOI show that since 1996, the rates for feeding inmates housed in garda stations have not been revised, reports Breaking News.
According to this, breakfast should cost €4.76, lunch should cost no more than €6.35, and dinner should cost €4.76.
In actuality, this means that fast-food businesses are nearly always used to supply meals for inmates.
A garda circular said: “The actual cost of expenditure on the provision of meals for persons detained in garda stations, is payable from public funds, subject to the limits set by the current maximum rates allowed. Every effort should be made to keep within these limits,” reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
