Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2005
381 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prison officers who received overtime during 2004 as a percentage of all serving prison officers; the average payment awarded to prison officers; the top 20 amounts of overtime paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36878/05]
View answerSince becoming Minister, I have been determined to eliminate the spiralling costs of overtime in the Prison Service. In this regard, I implemented strict budgetary controls and overtime costs have been reduced from €58.9 million in 2003 to €45.5 million last year. However, prison officers have, following prolonged negotiations, accepted a proposal for organisational change in the Prison Service, which will eliminate overtime working and its replacement with a new additional hours system. This new system, which has been introduced in four institutions and will be phased in to the remaining institutions before the end of February 2006, will substantially reduce the cost of extra attendance in the Prison Service. The introduction of the proposal for organisational change will contribute to a more efficient and effective Prison Service going forward into the future. Almost all prison officers received overtime payments during 2004. Approximately 13% of these earned under €1,000. The average overtime payment awarded to prison officers in 2004 was €14,000.
The top 20 earners are as follows:
|
Rank |
Amount |
|
€ |
|
|
1 |
71,091 |
|
2 |
69,846 |
|
3 |
67,660 |
|
4 |
61,753 |
|
5 |
56,706 |
|
6 |
55,424 |
|
7 |
54,881 |
|
8 |
52,748 |
|
9 |
52,278 |
|
10 |
51,808 |
|
11 |
51,714 |
|
12 |
51,106 |
|
13 |
51,039 |
|
14 |
50,980 |
|
15 |
50,878 |
|
16 |
50,672 |
|
17 |
50,472 |
|
18 |
49,867 |
|
19 |
49,548 |
|
20 |
48,947 |
