Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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263. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prison officers who left the Irish Prison Service in 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of prison officers that joined the service in 2018 and to date in 2019; if a new recruitment campaign for prison officers will be launched early in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43622/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that 124 Prison Grade Staff left the Irish Prison Service in 2018. I am further informed that to date in 2019 (as of 19 October), 104 Prison Grade Staff have left.

I am further informed that 181 Recruit Prison Officers joined the Irish Prison Service in 2018 and that an additional 167 Recruit Prison Officers have joined to date during 2019.

It is anticipated that a new recruitment campaign for the Irish Prison Service will commence in Quarter 1 2020. In the usual way, bearing in mind factors including retirement of existing staff, it can be expected that further recruitment will be necessary over the coming years in order for the Irish Prison Service to continue to provide safe and secure custody for those in their care.