Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Question No. 157 of 11 March 2004, and the associated letter of 30 March 2004, if he will clarify the exact application of all public service pay round increases already applied to prison service staff from 1980 to date; the result of the application of same to the post of prison chaplains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12454/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As stated in my letter of 30 March 2004, the Irish Prison Service has conducted a thorough search of its files and has documented all information available in relation to chaplains' salaries. To revisit these files in order to clarify the exact application of all public service pay round increases applied to prison staff from 1980 would take an inordinate amount of staff time and resources, which could not be justified given the present climate.

However, the Deputy may be interested to know that the Irish Prison Service is in discussions with the Co-ordinating Chaplaincy Group, which was appointed by the Irish Episcopal Conference to represent the Catholic chaplains, in relation to the salary and conditions of service. These discussions are at an advanced stage and it is hoped that they will be concluded in the near future to the satisfaction of all parties.