Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1263. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons working in the Irish Prison Service; the average age of exit from the service; the number at each staff level; the number that have left the service in each of the past ten years; and the number currently on sick leave. [15316/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that as of 18 March 2021 there are 3,485 staff assigned to the Irish Prison Service. 

A full breakdown of staff by Grade is set out in Table A below.

I can also advise the Deputy that 1,675 staff have left the Irish Prison Service from 1 January, 2010 to 12 March, 2021.

A breakdown per year of staff leaving the Irish Prison Service over the past ten years is set out in Table B. 

The average age of staff leaving the Service during that period was 50.  

Prison staff can retire when they reach 30 years actual paid service if  aged over 50.

I can further advise that on 1 March, 2021 there were 135 staff absent on sick leave from the Irish Prison Service.

Table A – Irish Prison Service Staff by Grade (18 March, 2021).

Table B attached provides the number of staff leaving the Prison Service by year.