Published Friday, 19 November 2010
The protest over jail conditions and visiting rights lasted over three months and involved around 30 prisoners.
It came to an end in August after extensive talks, when a deal was struck to provide a number of new facilities.
The cost of the deal was revealed to the DUP's Paul Givan after a question to the Department of Justice.
He was told that £550,000 will be spent on capital works, including a new search facility, security measures at Maghaberry's Astroturf pitches and repairs to sanitary equipment damaged in the protest.
A further £75,000 has been spent to date on additional staff costs to implement new arrangements, the response continued, and £45,000 was spent on cleaning Roe House during the protest.
Mr Givan says the public will be "staggered" to learn of the costs.
"The public will rightly want to know why money that could have been given to the police to combat crime or spent on our schools and hospitals, when investment is needed in these areas," the Lagan Valley MLA said.
He added that the new arrangements could compromise the safety of staff at Maghaberry.
"My primary concern is for the safety of staff and during meetings I have had with the Prison Officers Association in Maghaberry," Mr Given continued.
"Fears have been raised with me that the agreement reached with separated prisoners by the Department of Justice is putting the security of the prison at jeopardy."
In a statement, the Prison Service defended the agreement, which it said was necessary to end "what was a highly volatile situation".
"The safety of both prisoners and staff underpinned the agreement which brought to an end a protest by separated republican prisoners which had lasted several months," the statement said.
"The implementation of the agreement has necessitated some infrastructural changes to be undertaken and a works programme to deliver these is nearing completion. It has also meant that additional discipline staff hours are required to be worked each week.
"The Prison Service has endeavoured to carry out this work as cost effectively as possible, while ensuring that the highest levels of safety are maintained."