asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the General Prisons Board is acting in accordance with Circular 7,398, dated the 3rd September, 1920 (Pars. 2 and 3), in refusing to pay for overtime in cash and substituting time off in lieu; if he is aware that overtime, as per pars. referred to, was paid for in cash by the British Government and also by the Free State Government up to March of this year, when it was stopped by order of the Prisons Board; (2) whether the Prisons Board is acting in accordance with the Board's Circular 8088, dated 13th November, 1919, in refusing to pay the sleeping-in allowance to married Principal Warders; if he is aware that this allowance was granted by the British Treasury, as one of the details of a scheme of assimilation with the English Prisons Service, sanctioned by the Treasury, and was paid up to the signing of the Treaty; (3) whether the Prisons Board is refusing to allow superior officers, separated from their families, a free railway warrant every two months; whether this concession was granted on the same ground as No. 2 above.
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - PRISONS BOARD AND PAYMENT OF OVERTIME.
(1) The practice of the General Prisons Board in dealing with claims for overtime worked by Prison Warders has not been altered since the transfer of Government. When overtime is worked on escort or other special duty, payment is made in respect thereof unless time off in lieu is allowed. In former years it was more difficult to arrange for the grant of equivalent leave than it is at present, but such equivalent leave was always granted when possible. This practice will continue to be followed.
(2) The General Prisons Board have no authority to pay "sleeping-in" allowance to officers other than those of the warder class who were appointed prior to June, 1922, and no extension of this authority will be made. Where prison officers are required to reside in prisons, with free quarters, there is no reasonable ground for the payment of additional remuneration because of their residence in the prisons.
(3) The privilege of a free railway ticket every two months to enable married officers separated from their families to visit their homes has been granted to subordinate officers only. The General Prisons Board have no authority to extend this concession to superior officers, and I am not prepared to recommend to the Minister for Finance that any such extension should be authorised.