I regard the current overtime costs in the Irish Prison Service, which are running at an estimated €63 million to €64 million per annum, as entirely unsustainable.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 192 of 9 October 2003 concerning my proposals for the ending of the current open-ended prison overtime system and the position regarding the protracted negotiations in this respect with the Irish Prison Officers' Association.
In that response, I indicated that I am actively pursuing the application of more efficient staffing arrangements, particularly those which involve reducing overtime. A proposal for change is currently with the staff side for ballot. The proposal involves significant organisational change and revised working and attendance arrangements for prison staff. It is aimed at replacing overtime costs by adopting a more efficient annual hours attendance system.