Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he intends to replace the large number of prison officers who will be retiring in 2010; if not, the way he intends to ensure the service is adequately staffed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30693/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware the Irish Prison Service, in common with the Public Service in general, is subject to the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion and its staff also have access to the Incentivised Career Break Scheme.

The Director General of the Irish Prison Service is keeping the situation under constant review. In this regard I am glad to tell the Deputy that my colleague, the Minister for Finance, has sanctioned, as an exception to the moratorium, the induction of Recruit Prison Officers from existing recruitment panels to ensure adequate staffing levels in the existing prison estate, and also to facilitate the opening of new prisoner accommodation in Wheatfield prison.