James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree that the numbers are unacceptable. That is why we are determined to get them down. Competitions for principal, senior and staff grade psychologists are under way, with a closing date for applications of Friday, 4 August 2023. It is envisaged that recruitment will be completed and assignments made to existing and new vacancies by the end of 2023.

The prison psychology service provides an integrated service to people in custody and is responsible for mental health and criminogenic offence-related assessments and interventions. The Prison Service psychologists are qualified mental health practitioners and the largest body of mental health professionals employed directly by the Prison Service. The total number of staff currently assigned to the psychology service is a head of service, a principal psychologist manager, two principal specialist psychologists, 13 senior psychologists, 22.6 psychologists and 14 assistant psychologists. As I stated, a recruitment process is ongoing as well.

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