Prison Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 July 2014

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Questions (570)

Dara Calleary

Question:

570. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a job recently advertised at a prison (details supplied), that is, if it is a new position or a rebadged position; and, in view of this specific clarification, to outline the procedures that should apply to staff on transfer panels who apply for the position, that is, if staff have previously turned down an offered position should they be placed at the bottom of the panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30784/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am to inform the Deputy that the position referred to was 're-badged' through the change management process in the Irish Prison Service in line with commitments given under the Haddington Road Agreement.

In the case of this particular position, the position would have been offered but at that time there were no staff at the appropriate grade with transfer requests to that location for that position. Accordingly, the correct procedure at that time was to offer the position to the promotional panel in order of merit.

Staff should not be put to the bottom of the panel in an instance where they did not refuse this particular position. If staff on the promotional panel did not take up an offer of this particular position, it is then in order to offer it to staff at the appropriate grade who are now on the transfer list for the location where this particular position is based.