Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 193: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce privatised prison escorts, as provided for under Part 2 of the Prisons Bill 2006; if so, the evidence that has emerged in favour of such a plan since 2002 when his Department's expert committee concluded that privatisation of prisoner escorts was not a viable option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39315/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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While Part II of the Prisons Bill 2006 provides for an option to outsource prisoner escorts should it become necessary at some future date, I have no plans in the current circumstances to pursue that course. The Deputy will be aware that agreement was reached with the Prison Officers' Association last year on a comprehensive Proposal for Organisational Change in the Irish Prison Service. A key element of that Agreement involved the establishment of an in-house Prison Service Escort Corps. In the intervening period, the Prison Service Escort Corps has been successfully established and is now operating very well and the efficiencies anticipated from its introduction are being realised.