Mr. Brian Purcell:

One of the explanations, which does not cover it totally, is that all the ranks up to chief officer are rostered. It is not on exactly the same basis as the basic rate prison officers but they are on rosters. Some of the allowances paid to the deputy governor and assistant governor are a result of them working a five day roster, which includes attendance at weekends. The prisons operate on a 24 hour, seven day week basis. That would partly explain why the Deputy cannot see the tapering off that he expects but all the staff right up to chief officer are rostered. For example, assistant chief officers are on a seven day roster.