Parliamentary Question: Irish Prison Service

23rd November 2004

 407. Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason overtime payments are made on the same basis to prison officers at a prison which has no inmates as to prison officers at a prison which has inmates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30322/04]

 408. Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is less costly for the State to engage serving prison officers or a private security firm to maintain a presence at unoccupied prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30323/04]

 409. Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount paid in overtime to prison officers serving at Fort Mitchell Prison and the Curragh Prison since their closure, up to 18 November 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30324/04]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 to 409, inclusive, together.

I refer the Deputy to the answers provided to Questions Nos. 228 and 299 of 16 November 2004, which are relevant to the matter in hand. I said on that date that a small cohort of prison staff is assigned to duties at the Curragh and Fort Mitchel for security reasons and because of the need to carry out essential maintenance. I indicated that there are 11 and 12 staff serving at the Curragh and Fort Mitchel, respectively, and that overtime payments paid to them are made on the same basis as overtime payments at all other locations in the Prison Service. Overtime is necessary in the prisons because of the pattern of cover required to maintain security all day, every day and the small number of staff providing that cover. Approximately €162,000 was paid in overtime to prison officers serving at the Curragh and Fort Mitchel from the time they were mothballed until 30 September 2004. Up-to-date figures are not available. It should be noted that Fort Mitchel was fully operational until it was mothballed on 10 February 2004 and the Curragh was fully operational until it was mothballed on 20 January 2004.