Mr. Brian Purcell:

That is being done. Under the terms of the Croke Park agreement, Mr. Donnellan, his team, Mr. Clinton and the people from the Prison Officers Association, POA, are examining ways to deliver new regimes within the Irish Prison Service that will facilitate a better delivery of services to prisoners in a more effective and efficient way from the perspective of the taxpayer and management. Mr. Donnellan described the introduction of campus arrangements and the ensuing efficiencies, for example, the civilianisation of office administration. A task review has been carried out. The work done under the proposal on organisational change set a template on how to proceed. Tasks are being examined in the context of providing better regimes to prisoners. A core element of this is an incentivised regime system that will facilitate the better delivery of services by staff across the 14 prisons and increased efficiencies in terms of staffing arrangements. It will also provide a better working environment for the staff and a better living environment for the prisoners.

The work being done by Mr. Donnellan and his team in consultation and negotiation with the POA is delivering real change. It is not just a question of money, although that is a significant element. We are delivering significant savings, but we are also in the process of delivering a much reformed system.