Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1246. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Justice the number of whole-time equivalent medical officer appointments in the Irish Prison Service; the number of these that are currently vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14846/21]
View answer1247. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Justice the number of medical officer appointments that were filled by temporary locum staff in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14847/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1246 and 1247 together.
I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service use a combination of full time Medical Officers and locum Medical Officers to deliver General Practitioner services across the Prison estate.
As of 23 March 2021, the total number of Medical Officers assigned in the Irish Prison Service is five, two full time and three part time.
I can further advise that there are currently 9.5 vacancies for Medical Officers across the prison estate. There is currently a panel in place from a recent open recruitment competition which will reduce, though not eliminate, the use of temporary locum Medical Officers across the estate.
The Service continually monitor the staffing requirements and vacancies that arise as a result of multiple factors including mobility, promotions and retirements.
The information requested by the Deputy on the daily requirement for locum medical officers in each prison is set out in Table 1.
This requirement has remained constant from 2016 to 2020. It should be noted that the General Practitioner service provided in Cork Prison is by way of a service level agreement with a community General Practitioner rather than a locum service.
Table 1. Daily Level Of Locum GP Service required
|
Prison |
Daily Level Of Locum GP Service required |
|
Arbour Hill |
0.5 |
|
Castlerea |
1.0 |
|
Cloverhill |
1.0 |
|
Cork |
1.0 |
|
Limerick |
1.0 |
|
Loughan |
0.3 |
|
Midlands |
1.5 |
|
Mountjoy/Progression Unit |
1.5 |
|
Portlaoise |
1.0 |
|
Shelton |
0.3 |
|
Wheatfield |
1.0 |
|
TOTAL |
10.1 |
