Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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163. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the prisoner population and the number of staff employed within Mountjoy Prison for 2012 to date in tabular form; the number of staff on maternity leave or long-term sick leave for 2012 to date in tabular form; the provision in place for such absences of staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30575/16]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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164. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the prisoner population and the number of staff employed within the Prison Service on a prison-by-prison basis for 2012 to date in tabular form; the number of staff on maternity leave or long-term sick leave on a prison-by-prison basis for 2012 to date in tabular form; the provision in place for such absences of staff in Irish prisons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30577/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.

I can inform the Deputy that the prisoner population, attendance and staff assigned can change on a daily basis. For the purposes of the information provided in this reply the data used are correct as of the 17 October 2016.

Daily Average in Custody:

Number of Staff:

While there has been a reduction in the staffing levels in the Irish Prison Service, this has been as a result of controlled reductions as set out in the Croke Park Agreement and the Haddington Road Agreement and is in line with Government policy to reduce Public Service numbers. Under the Haddington Road Agreement, the Irish Prison Service undertook to engage in a joint examination of all tasks within the prisons system in conjunction with the Prison Officers' Association. The Joint Task Reviews examined in detail all current organisational, structural and operational arrangements that are necessary so that prisons can operate in the most effective and efficient manner. This has resulted in significant savings of circa €20 million to the exchequer

Number of Staff on Maternity Leave

Number of Staff on Long Term Sick Leave (90+ days)

Please note the figures for long term Staff sick leave for 2012 are unavailable.

The is no provision within the staffing arrangements of the Irish Prison Service to replace staff on maternity leave or sick leave. However, there are mechanisms in place to support leave absences include the utilisation of additional working hours and the use of Diminishing Task Lines, to address a shortfall in staffing which may occur on any given day including absences of certified sick leave. The Diminishing Task Lines is the process whereby identified tasks are temporarily suspended to allow staff previously assigned to these tasks and posts to be redeployed to priority tasks and posts.

Prison management are responsible for the efficient and effective deployment of resources on any given day to maintain good order, safe and secure custody, whilst maintaining, as far as is reasonably practicable, access to structured activities for prisoners.

In addition, where a long term absence exists in the healthcare area, access to agency staff is requested.