Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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91. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of medical posts unfilled across the Irish Prison Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25032/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by the Irish Prison Service that in recent years difficulties have been experienced in recruiting general practitioners to work in prisons. In response to this, the Irish Prison Service has contracted an agency to provide locum doctors to ensure the continued provision of general practitioner services, where prison doctor posts are vacant.

In addition, the Irish Prison Service has earlier this year contracted to provide general practitioners services under a “Contract for Service” arrangement in Cork prison. The table sets out the current position regarding prison doctor cover across the prison estate.

*WTE whole time equivalents