Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 2

Written Answers - Prison Staff.

Willie Penrose

Question:

143 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made to date in discussions between his Department, the Prison Service and the IPOA with a view to reducing the very high level of overtime in the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7344/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I refer the Deputy to previous questions concerning my proposals to reduce the very high level of overtime in the Prison Service, which I answered on 27 November 2002 and 6 February 2003, respectively.

In November, I outlined the background to the present overtime situation. I indicated that the Prison Service had drawn together a new framework to tackle the service's dependency on overtime working and that outline costings on a package of proposals for change, on which to consult the staff side, had been submitted to the Depart ment of Finance for consideration. In February, I indicated that it had not been possible to finalise the requisite consultations with the Department of Finance prior to engaging in discussions with the Prison Officers' Association on an appropriate change agenda due to the ongoing deliberations on national pay issues, including benchmarking.

The current position is that consultations between my officials and officials of the Department of Finance in relation to detailed aspects of the package of proposals for change are now concluding. The Prison Service management will very shortly be in a position to enter into negotiations with staff representatives on an agenda for change that will address the overtime issue comprehensively.