Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020
248. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice if a recruitment moratorium is in place for the Irish Prison Service at present; if so, when new recruits will fill their positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27814/20]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Prison Service that at present, there is no recruitment moratorium in place and that the recruitment process has been ongoing since 2017 having regard to such factors as service needs and retirement levels.
The Deputy will wish to be aware that new recruits into the organisation take up their positions on a scheduled basis, throughout the course of the year, subject to the number of vacancies at any given time and a candidates position in the order of merit of the respective recruitment competition.
86 candidates took up the role of RPO in 2017, 182 in 2018, 215 in 2019 and 65 have taken up the role to date in 2020. There are two further classes planned before year end and it is hoped another 36 RPOs will progress through those classes bringing the total RPOs recruited for 2020 to 101.
