Gay Mitchell
Question:3 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice the number of probation and welfare staff who are actually working in Mountjoy Prison at present in view of her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 14 October 1993.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Probation and Welfare Service.
Five probation and welfare officers are working in Mountjoy Prison at present. There are two vacancies — one at senior level and one at officer grade — arising from career breaks. There is also one officer on secondment. The vacancies will be filled as soon as practicable in 1994 and the officer on secondment will return in June 1994.
Will the Minister agree that there are three probation and welfare officers working in the system, two of whom are on career breaks and one of whom is on maternity leave? Has that position changed in the last day or two or is the Minister's information any more up to date than it was on the question of fraud, which she could not answer? Will the Minister accept that three probation and welfare officers are totally inadequate for a prison population of 600? This is at the heart of the level of recidivism and crime and our revolving door prison system. Will the Minister take steps to ensure that an adequate number of probation and welfare officers are appointed and maintained?
As I said, five probation and welfare officers are working in Mountjoy Prison at present. The filling of the vacancies is a matter of priority, a competition is being held at present to fill the senior vacancy and the successful candidate should be appointed by February 1994. The other vacancy in the probation and welfare service will be filled by early 1994. The officer on secondment will return in June 1994, thus making a full staff complement.
Will the Minister verify whether two of the five people are on career breaks? Will she accept that this type of probation and welfare person is totally inadequate to deal with the level of work required in the system? Will she also agree that it would be most cost effective to have a properly manned service which would, in the long run, pay for itself in terms of a reduction in recidivism and help to make the system rehabilitative, which it is supposed to be?
I have been seeking additional staff for the probation and welfare service because there has not been a significant increase in the numbers for quite some years while, at the same time, the burden on the service has increased in relation to the prisoners who are requesting assistance from it.
When prisoners request to see a probation and welfare person, those requests are granted immediately and all prisoners are seen. Every effort is made by the service, despite its stretched capacity, to meet all the prisoners' needs.