I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 to 112, inclusive, together.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that its recent competition for Chief Officer 2 (Work and Training) involved a short-listing stage under which, in order for candidates to progress to the next stage, a minimum mark of 5 had to be achieved under each of the 5 competencies and that failure to meet the minimum mark in any particular competency would result in the candidate's application not progressing to the next stage.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that following the short-listing stage, a number of candidates who had received at least 5 out of 10 for each competency were not initially among those short-listed for interview by the board, which was highlighted to the Irish Prison Service by a number of these candidates. As this was found not to be in accordance with the terms of the competition circular, the Irish Prison Service immediately took corrective action and invited all candidates who received at least 5 out of 10 for each competency for interview to ensure full compliance with the terms of the competition circular.
Finally, I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that at interview stage, the board marked each candidate out of 100 for each of the five competencies, with an overall mark awarded out of 500, and that written records have been kept by it of the scores awarded by the board.