Vol. 437 No. 6
276 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants who sat the recent examination for prison officer posts; the number of vacancies which she intends to fill in 1994; and the expected duration of the current panel formed as a result of these examinations.
284 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice whether all candidates who have passed the recent competition for employment in the prison service will be interviewed; if not, the number of those who are not likely to be interviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 284 together.
The number of applicants who sat the written examination stage of the current Prison Officer competition was 5,834 of whom 4,862 achieved the qualifying standard. To date 311 applicants have been called for the final stages of the competitive process and a further 368 applicants will be called shortly. The prospects of further candidates being called to the final stage of the process will depend on the extent to which current vacancies (204) can be filled from those already called. It is not practicable, at this stage, to indicate the expected duration of the current panel.
