Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2005
463 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in reassigning prison officers from the Curragh Prison to permanent duties in view of the fact that at present a number of them are on temporary assignment; his views on whether this is unfair to the prison officers; and if the position be regularised as soon as possible. [20625/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you are aware, the rejection by ballot of the proposal for organisational change in the Irish Prison Service resulted in the closure of the Curragh place of detention as a cost reduction measure. This possibility had been clearly flagged to staff for some time prior to the vote on the negotiated deal.
Following the closure of the Curragh place of detention, 65 staff, of mixed grades, were due to be redeployed. The staff concerned were given time to indicate their preferred location for re-assignment and this was extended at the request of the Prison Officers' Association. To date, 31 of these staff have been given their permanent reassignment. It is expected that the remaining 34, who are currently temporarily assigned to the Midlands Prison, will be notified of their permanent assignment within the next two weeks.
My Department has also effected 29 consequential long standing transfers to and from a number of institutions, including Arbour Hill, Cloverhill, Cork, Midlands, Mountjoy, Wheatfield and Portlaoise Prisons and St. Patrick's Institution. Every effort is being made to accommodate staff, as far as practicable, with a location of their preference or a suitable alternative. However, the needs of the service still have to remain our priority.
