Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 1

Written Answers. - Prison Officer Secondment.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

105 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current situation in relation to the prison officer who is seconded to work closely with the Prison Officers Association; when this commenced and the length of time it will continue; the current annual cost to his Department of salary, overtime, expenses and so on; if the original secondment was made on the request, or with the approval, of the Prison Officers Association; if the officer is working for, and under, the instruction of the association or the Minister and prison authorities; if the reason for the appointment is generally known and understood within the prison service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22542/97]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

Two officers of the prison service are on secondment to the Prisons Officers' Association (POA). The salary costs in respect of these officers, the General Secretary and the Deputy General Secretary of the POA, are refunded to my Department by the POA. Following a request from the POA in 1995 a third officer was granted special leave with pay to work with the POA. This special leave commenced on 1 May 1995.

The reason for the granting of this special leave was to provide resources to the POA in order to expedite discussions between my Department and the Association on a number of issues which were of particular concern to my Department.

The officer on special leave is not in receipt of overtime or expenses payments from my Department. The annual salary cost of this officer, including employer's PRSI, amounts to approximately £21,000.

The special leave was granted on the condition that the officer would not be replaced in the prison service, that the period of special leave would not extend for more than three years and that the arrangement would be reviewed annually. At each of the annual reviews in 1996 and 1997 it was decided to allow the special leave continue. The three year period of special leave will, however, expire on 30 April next year.