Vol. 470 No. 1
242 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Justice the total numbers employed in the probation and welfare services; the numbers employed in each prison; if she will give a timeframe for extra recruitment to these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18461/96]
In July of this year I secured Government approval for an extra ten probation plus two clerical support staff for the probation and welfare service. These additional staff will bring the approved staffing numbers for the Service up to 258. There is a total of 241 staff serving at present and recruitment to fill the remaining vacancies is ongoing. The bulk of the vacancies, 13, are in the probation and welfare officer grade and these will be filled by competition organised by the Civil Service Commission. The closing date for this competition was 12 September last. Interviews will commence shortly with appointments in the first quarter of the new year.
A competition to fill two vacancies at senior probation and welfare officer level is near completion. The remaining two vacancies are in the clerical grades and it is expected that they also will be filled shortly.
There is a total of 34 probation and welfare staff assigned to the prisons. The number assigned to each prison is given in the following table.
I am keeping the probation service's staffing requirements under review.
Probation and Welfare Service — Staff Numbers in Prisons and Places of Detention (14 October, 1996)
|
Place of Custody |
A/Principal Probation and Welfare Officer |
Senior Probation and Welfare Officer |
Probation and Welfare Officer |
|
Mountjoy (Male) |
3** |
7 |
|
|
(Female) |
1 |
||
|
Training Unit |
1 |
2 |
|
|
St. Patrick's Institution |
(Based in Headquarters) |
2 |
|
|
Wheatfield |
1*** |
4 |
|
|
Arbour Hill |
2 |
||
|
Shanganagh |
1 |
||
|
Shelton Abbey |
1 |
||
|
Loughan House |
1* |
||
|
Portlaoise |
0.5 |
1.5 |
|
|
Limerick |
0.5 |
2 |
|
|
Cork Prison |
0.5 |
2 |
|
|
Fort Mitchel |
1 |
||
|
Total |
1 |
5.5 |
27.5 |
