Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021
560. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the estimated full year cost of recruiting three additional full-time occupational psychologists and six additional psychologists for the Irish Prison Service in tabular form. [43890/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of the Psychology Service in the Irish Prison Service is to deliver, develop and manage an integrated (mental health and criminogenic need) assessment and treatment service for people in custody, in line with service plans and objectives, and within established professional standards, guidelines and policy.
I am informed that at present, there are no occupational psychologists employed by the Irish Prison Service. However, should occupational psychologists be recruited into the organisation, the estimated full year cost of recruitment would be dependent on the pay scale applicable at that time which would be subject to approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
I am further informed that the Irish Prison Service currently employ various other psychologist grades, including;
- Head of Psychological Services, Principal Psychologist Manager,
- Senior Psychologists (Grade I),
- Staff Grade Psychologists (Grade II), and
- *Assistant Psychologists.
The figures provided in Table 1 are Payscale of a Staff Grade Psychologist (Grade II) per annum and are based on the incremental pay scale as at 1 October 2020.
Table 1 - Payscale of a Staff Grade Psychologist (Grade II) appointed after 6 April 1995
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
|
€55,169 |
€58,680 |
€61,183 |
€63,782 |
€66,382 |
€68,952 |
€71,084 |
€75,879 |
€80,208 |
€84,604 |
€88,171 NMAX |
€90,926 LSI1 |
€93,690 LSI2 |
The information sought by the Deputy in respect of the estimated cost of providing six additional Staff Grade Psychologists (Grade II) to the Irish Prison Service is provided in Table 2.
Table 2 - Cost of providing six Staff Grade Psychologists (Grade II) to a Prison
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
|
€331,014 |
€352,080 |
€367,098 |
€382,692 |
€398,292 |
€413,712 |
€426,504 |
€455,274 |
€481,248 |
€507,624 |
€529,026 NMAX |
€545,556 LSI1 |
€562,140 LSI2 |
*Assistant Psychologists are an unqualified grade, employed on a one year fixed term contract basis only and are not included in client to Psychologist ratios.
