Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to previous parliamentary questions in regard to the examination on the 10 December 2005 for prison officer promotion, if he will provide this Deputy with the number of queries which have not been replied to; the reason they have been replied to; if anyone got the opportunity to re-sit the test; if he will address the issue of the problem with the sequence of pages; the number of complainants from each prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20457/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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A response has been given to all queries received in relation to the promotion competition for Prison Officers. The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has consulted with the firm of Occupational Psychologists involved in running these tests on the concerns raised by candidates and is satisfied that a re-sit of the test is not warranted. The concern regarding the sequence of pages in the exam in question has been brought to the attention of the firm of Occupational Psychologists engaged to run these tests, who have assured the IPS that the pages in question were very clearly headed with clear descriptions as to how they should be used. In addition, clear instructions were given as to the nature of these pages and each invigilator checked to ensure that participants were on the correct page. I have also been advised that during the pre-test practice briefing some candidates were unsure which pages to use. In that regard, the correct procedure was then explained on a number of occasions in order that all candidates could understand what was required of them.

In all the circumstances, the IPS is satisfied that it should proceed with the conclusion of this competition without delay.

The breakdown of complainants by each prison is as follows: