Written answers
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
Department of Justice and Equality
Prison Service
Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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923. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of psychologists employed in each prison; the number of vacant positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28218/23]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The role of the Psychology Service in the Irish Prison Service is to deliver, develop and manage an integrated mental health and criminogenic needs 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 advised by the Irish Prison Service that the Psychology Service is currently made up of a Head of Service, a Principal Psychologist Manager, a Principal Specialist Psychologist, 13 Senior Psychologists, 22.6 Psychologists and 14 Assistant Psychologists. The latter is a fixed term contract unqualified grade not included in psychologist numbers or psychologists to prisoner ratios. The table below outlines the number of qualified Psychologists post authorised by location, the number currently assigned by location and the number of vacant positions.
I can further advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service have scheduled a psychologist recruitment campaign for June 2023 to cover all vacant psychology posts.
| Location | Number of Authorised Staff | Number of Staff Currently Assigned | Number of Vacant Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Prison Service Headquarters | 1 x Head of Psychology Services | 1 x Head of Psychology Services | 0 |
| Psychology Service HQ (Arbour Hill) | 1 x Principal Psychologist Manager | 1 x Principal Psychologist Manager | 0 |
| Arbour Hill | 1 x Principal Specialist Psychologist 1 x Psychologist 1 x Senior Psychologist | 1 x Psychologist 1 x Senior Psychologist | 1 x Principal Specialist Psychologist |
| Castlerea Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist2 x Psychologist | 1.4 WTE x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist0.6 WTE x Psychologist |
| Cloverhill Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist1.4 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist | 0.4 x Psychologist |
| Cork Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist2 x Psychologists | 1 x Senior Psychologist2 x Psychologists | 0 |
| Limerick Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist 2 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist | 2 x Psychologist |
| Loughan House | 0.6 WTE Psychologist | 0.6 WTE Psychologist | 0 |
| Midlands Prison | 2 x Senior Psychologist3 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist 2 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist |
| Mountjoy Female Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist 0.6 WTE Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist 0.6 WTE Psychologist | 0 |
| Mountjoy Male | 1 x Senior Psychologist4 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist3 x Psychologist | 1 x Psychologist |
| Portlaoise Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist | 0 |
| Wheatfield Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist 3 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist | 2 x Psychologist |
| Irish Prison Service College | 1 x Senior Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist | 0 |
| Shelton Abbey | 0.6 WTE Psychologist | 0 | 0.6 WTE Psychologist |
| National Violence Reduction Unit | 1 x Senior Psychologist1 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist | 1 x Psychologist |
| Training Unit | 0.4 WTE Psychologist | 0.4 WTE Psychologist | 0 |
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