asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement in regard to the issue of shirts and uniforms to prison officials.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Prison Officials' Shirts and Uniforms.
Prison officers are issued with uniforms but must provide shirts at their own expense.
Is it a fact that, in reply to a similar question last July, the Minister told me that he was meeting the officials concerned to make a settlement on this question in regard to shirts and uniforms? Would he say what happened at that interview?
Officials of the Department did meet representatives of the officials concerned and they did reach agreement with regard to open-neck collars. They have not been able, however, to agree on the matter of free shirts because, as there are 7,000 uniformed officials, we could be involved in a cost up to £25,000, as other officials would claim similar concessions.