Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019
620. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff the Irish Prison Service is planning to transfer to a location (details supplied) from other prisons between 31 August 2019 and 31 December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35803/19]
View answer621. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the Irish Prison Service only transfers a small number of staff to a location (details supplied) in comparison to other prisons in view of the fact it is understaffed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35804/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 620 and 621 together.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the transfer of staff to each prison is based on the number of vacancies at each grade and overall resource availability. The number of vacancies within a grade varies for a number of reasons and can change from week to week. These variations include staff promotions, retirements and transfers and as such it is not possible to predict the number of staff who will transfer to the prison referred to in the Question. The Irish Prison Service routinely review the number of vacancies across the Prison estate and progress transfers in line with available resources and to ensure the optimum allocation of these resources.
I am further advised by the Irish Prison Service that staffing requirements are continuously monitored, and that the Irish Prison Service recruitment process is on-going. Currently the Irish Prison Service are filling vacancies for Prison Clerical Officers, Recruit Prison Officers, Prison Nurses along with some Senior Level grades.
