Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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680. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the current wait time for security clearances for Irish Prison Service recruits is between 12 and 18 months; if her Department will take steps to reduce this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26428/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will understand, prior to making an appointment to the position of recruit prison officer, the Irish Prison Service is obliged to make such inquires as are deemed necessary to determine the suitability of candidates.

I wish to inform the Deputy that given the nature of the functions of the Irish Prison Service, checks secondary to and in addition to vetting are required to be carried out. While these checks can take some time to be completed for a variety of reasons depending on the individual case, every effort is made to ensure there is no undue delay. I am informed, however, that in general terms that the Security Clearance process can take up to 12 months.

I am advised that applicants awaiting security clearance can contact the Irish Prison Service at the email address ipsrecruitment@irishprisons.ie, in order to obtain the current status of their application.