Parliamentary Question: Prison Staff

13th November 2001

114. Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total amount paid in overtime payments to staff of the prison service during 2000; the greatest amount paid to an individual; the average payment made to staff; the steps being taken to control overtime costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27662/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): As I indicated in my written reply to the same question on 3 October 2001, tabled in the name of Deputy Penrose, the total figure for overtime expenditure in 2000 was £38,683,977. The largest overtime payment to any one individual was £44,485 which was paid to a prison officer in Mountjoy Prison. The average overtime per officer during 2000 was £12,336.

The Irish Prison Service is continuing to monitor levels of overtime and to take corrective action where possible. The underlying problems associated with the level of additional attendance involved in the operation of the prisons do not lend themselves to short-term solutions. Staffing levels and arrangements are the product of operational circumstances which have been in place for many decades against a background, at times, of considerable tensions and difficulty.

It has long been recognised that the only way of addressing the problem is to follow a long-term strategy which addresses the methods of deployment and conditions of service which give rise to the present high levels of overtime. This is the approach which is now being taken. Details of the initiatives which have already been taken to address the issue of overtime in the prison service in a comprehensive way as well as information on the current progress being made in the matter, in conjunction with the Prison Officers Association, are set out in my reply of 3 October.