(Cavan) asked the Minister for Justice how many welfare officers are attached to (a) The Young Offenders' Detention Centre at Shanganagh Castle and (b) St. Patrick's Institute; how many prisoners each welfare officer is responsible for; and if in view of the general emphasis on rehabilitation of young offenders it is proposed to attach any further welfare officers to these places; and, if so, how many.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prison Welfare Officers.
59.
The two welfare officers assigned to St. Patrick's Institution and Mountjoy Prison also deal with Shanganagh. The daily average population in Mountjoy, St. Patrick's and Shanganagh totalled 492 last year, but it is not possible to give a realistic figure for which each officer is responsible, as the degree of responsibility varies from a single meeting to a high degree of involvement.
Nevertheless, while the matter cannot be reduced to simple figures, I am satisfied that the existing staffing is inadequate and I have approved the appointment of an additional welfare officer and a clerical assistant to St. Patrick's, a further welfare officer and clerical assistant to Mountjoy and a third welfare officer who will be exclusively responsible for Shanganagh. Arrangements are being made to have the additional staff recruited through the Civil Service Commissioners as soon as possible.