Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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329. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the application procedure for a prison officer post; the reason a person working in the prison service in the UK who has the relevant qualifications for the UK prison service cannot be afforded an interview here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39570/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by the Irish Prison Service that the recruitment process for the position of Recruit Prison Officer is outlined in the Recruit Prison Officer Information Booklet which issues at the initial stage of a Recruit Prison Officer campaign, the most recent of which commenced in 2016. The process consists of completion of an application form, Stage 1 unsupervised on-line assessments, Stage 2 supervised on-line assessments and Stage 3 interview and other assessments. Candidates who qualify at Stage 3 and whose place on the order of merit is reached will go forward to Stage 4 for consideration by the Irish Prison Service. Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the selection process are conducted by the Public Appointments Service.

As the Deputy will understand, it is of the utmost importance to ensure fairness and transparency for all candidates involved in a recruitment campaign. Therefore, all candidates must successfully complete each and every stage of the recruitment process as outlined above in order to progress to the next stage.