The government spent an extra €1.1 million running detention centres last year, despite a drastic drop in the number of migrant residents, said the Home Affairs Ministry.

Figures tabled in Parliament by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela earlier this month reveal that, although the average cost of running the centres was normally around €3.3 million, last year the government had spent €4.4 million.

The increased cost came as the number of migrants in detention more than halved between the two years under review. There are currently 15 migrants in detention, however earlier this year the centres were reportedly empty.

The way centres were operated in previous years had come under criticism from NGOs and even the European Commission which had urged Malta to address the detention system. Migrants have in the past regularly complained about the conditions, describing them as prisons with terrible facilities.

The detention centres’ fuel bill also increased – by 700 per cent

A spokeswoman for Mr Abela highlighted the employment of 40 new detention officers as a major expense leading to increased running costs.

A breakdown of the expenses shows that salaries between 2013 and 2014 increased from €2 million, to €2.3 million. Unspecified contractual services also more than doubled from €65,000 to €192,000. Interestingly, the detention centres’ fuel bill also increased – by 700 per cent. The government went from spending an average of €5,000 and €6,000 on petrol to €42,000 last year.

The amount spent on operating materials and supplies was also a major expense, increasing from €151,000 to €560,000.

The spokeswoman also pointed towards a number of projects undertaken last year involving the centres.

Around 20 EU co-financed project included the introduction of new buildings and upgrades to existing structures at the Ħal Far and Safi centres.

IT and new health and safety equipment was also purchased, the spokeswoman said.