John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his policy or the arrangements within his Department and the Irish Prison Service in particular to assist employees to return to full-time employment following a work related incident; if there are supports in place backed up by professional assistance for employers suffering from depression or anxiety as a result of an incident in the work place; the efforts made to provide better work placements with less onerous tasks for persons affected in this way; if the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has been resolved to the satisfaction of the employee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26664/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that there are a number of initiatives in place to assist employees to return to full-time employment following a work related incident. These initiatives include:- the Employee Assistance Programme; the Critical Incident Protocol; and Medical Assistance Support. The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a civil service wide support programme which is designed to assist employees with personal difficulties. The programme provides a confidential service including information and support to staff who are experiencing difficulties. The EAP in the Irish Prison Service has 3 full-time Employee Assistance Officers (1 Senior and 2 Welfare Officers) supported by 32 part-time Staff Support Officers who perform these duties at local level in addition to their prison duties. I am informed that the Officer referred to by the Deputy was made aware of the availability of this Service.

The Irish Prison Service has 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 their duty receives appropriate and timely support, including access to a clinical psychologist.

Medical Assistance Support includes referral to the Chief Medical Officer. Officers who absent themselves on sick leave for a period of 4 weeks are referred to the Chief Medical Officer for medical prognosis. Furthermore, all prison grade staff have access to a range of therapeutic services, including psychiatric and psychology services. Referral to any particular service is on the basis of assessed need. The Officer concerned was referred to the Chief Medical Officer and was facilitated with a number of follow up appointments.

In the event that an Officer is certified by the Chief Medical Officer as unfit to carry out the full range of duties, every effort is made by the Prison Governor to identify a suitable position for that officer. The Deputy will appreciate that it may not always be feasible to accommodate officers with less onerous tasks in a front line operational service.

I have been advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the Officer concerned is not certified as being unfit to carry out the full range of duties. Local management has made every effort to support the officer in his return and continued attendance at work by facilitating him with alternative duties where operationally possible.