The Prison Service has confirmed that officers serving in the four prisons due to be closed or taken out of the hands of officers will be paid mileage allowances to move to new prisons.
The Director General of the Prison Service, Sean Aylward, told RTÉ radio that the officers would be paid reduced mileage rates and other cost savings would be made.
But the Prison Officers' Association has said the Government is prepared to spend more money on closing prisons than keeping them open.
The Curragh Prison shut today as the final 38 inmates were transferred to the Midlands.
It means 75 officers based at the jail will be paid an average of €200 a week mileage allowance, at a weekly cost to the Justice Department of €15,000.
Spike Island is also due to close in less than two weeks while another 100 prison officers in Shelton Abbey and Loughan House will have to be re-deployed.
