Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1172. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for a breakdown by prison, in tabular form, for the number of people working in the Irish Prison Service; the number at each staff level; the number of vacant positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38332/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that for security and operational reasons, the Irish Prison Service is not in a position to provide a breakdown of the staff resources allocated to individual prisons. The allocation of staffing across the prison estate is based on the security and operational needs of each individual prison. The number of staff required is influenced by factors including, in particular, the numbers in custody, category of prisoner and regimes and a range of other factors, including the risks and needs associated with specific areas and particular offenders.
The Irish Prison Service continually monitors the staffing requirements of, and vacancies that arise, in the organisation and recruitment or promotion campaigns are put in place as required. Vacancies can arise as a result of multiple factors including internal and external mobility, promotions and retirements.
The total number of staff employed by the Irish Prison Service and the total number of vacancies as at 31st August 2023 is outlined in the table below.
|
Prison Officers* |
Other Grades** |
HQ Staff |
Total Number of Staff |
Total Number of Vacancies |
|
2178 |
1160 |
170 |
3508 |
326.1 |
* Prison Officers & Recruit Prison Officers
** Assistant Chief Officers, Work Training Officers, Chief Officers, Trade Officers, Tutors, Medical Staff, Psychology Staff, Chaplains, Prison Administrative Staff and Governor Grades.
The figures provided above do include fixed term contract staff e.g. Assistant Psychologists, Trainee Psychologists and Research Assistants
