Richard Bruton
Ceist:34 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the number of psychologists currently employed by her Department; and the way in which their services are allocated.
Written Answers. - Departmental Staff Statistics.
There are four clinical psychologists employed in my Department and arrangements are in train to recruit a further two.
The primary responsibility of the service is to provide a clinical psychological service to individual prisoners. However, their special skills may also be employed in other activities, for example, counselling for specific categories of offenders, group treatment programmes, prison staff recruitment and training etc. The services of the psychologists are allocated to meet the most urgent requirements as they arise.