David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a facility exists in the Prison Service for officers who sustain very minor injuries during the course of their work to transfer to light duties until they make a full recovery; the number of prison officers injured during the course of their work in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30735/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The existing arrangements applying to civil servants assaulted in the course of, or in connection with, carrying out their official duties are contained in Department of Finance circular 5/1986. These arrangements do not provide for assignment or transfer of staff to light duties pending their recovery from injury.

The Prison Service has, however, developed a critical incident protocol which seeks to ensure that any employee who has been exposed to assault, trauma, injury or fatality in the course of duty, receives appropriate and timely support. Under this protocol, a staff support officer should, in advance of a return to duty, establish if any short-term adjustments to duties are considered necessary for the employee involved and these should be communicated to the governor. Governors usually respond sympathetically and supportively to such requests. Each case is assessed individually, however, and the ability of governors to respond positively depends on the operational requirements existing at the time.

The numbers of prison officers injured on duty in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 are 24, 52, 81 and 61, respectively. These figures are subject to ongoing revision, however, as injury-on-duty reports are submitted.