asked the Minister for Justice what funds are at present spent on training courses and inservice courses for prison officers; and if he proposes improvements in this area.
Written Answers. - Prison Officer Training.
213.
A comprehensive programme of training for prison officers has been in existence for some years. This programme includes induction courses for newly-recruited officers, an on-the-job training programme for new officers, a special programme of four-week refresher training courses for the staff employed at the open centres at Shanganagh and Loughan House and suitable development courses for all officers above the basic level. Most of this programme is carried out on a full-time basis by trained officers of the Prison Service, with the part-time assistance of the Department's training officer and other headquarter's officers. Assistance is got from outside agencies such as the Civil Service Training Centre, the Institute of Public Administration and AnCO in providing places at courses run by them or in participating in internal courses.
An estimate of the annual cost of this training based on the salaries of the officers engaged full-time in training and the cost of courses provided by outside agencies is of the order of £23,000. Other costs which cannot readily be assessed are the proportions of the salaries of the officers involved in the training on a part-time basis and the cost of the service provided by the Civil Service Training Centre for which there is no charge.
The programme of training is under continuous review and is being and will continue to be expanded and adjusted to meet the needs of the Prison Service.