Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 717: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm if there is to be an exemption on the embargo on recruitment to the Prison Service in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31207/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is not exempt from the operation of Government Decision S180/20/10/0964C of 3 February and 24 March 2009 on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers, more generally referred to as the moratorium on public sector recruitment. However, the terms of the moratorium provide that in exceptional circumstances recruitment may take place with the approval of the Minister for Finance. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Minister for Finance on 31 July 2009 approved the recruitment of 40 Recruit Prison Officers. These Recruit Officers reported for duty to the Prison Service Training & Development Centre on 24 August 2009.