Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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900. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the role that the Army has in the guarding of prisoners in Irish prisons; the number of prisoners who are guarded and their locations; the number of man-hours which are spent by the Army in guarding prisoners annually; the pay which soldiers receive for each hour guarding prisoners; the way that this compares with prison officer pay for each hour guarding prisoners; the allowances which are provided to soldiers for this work; and the way that this compares with prison officer allowances for guarding prisoners. [29051/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP), which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.

Defence Forces personnel acting in an armed Aid to the Civil Power role, deploy troops on the direction of the Government, in order to assist the Prison Service and An Garda Síochána. They provide 24/7, 365 days a year, security at Portlaoise Prison and for security reasons it would not be appropriate to disclose the details regarding the number of personnel assigned to each deployment.

Military personnel drawn from all Brigades are mobilised into a special unit for this purpose. Each unit's tour of duty normally lasts for about two months on a four days on, two days off rota basis. In addition to basic pay, prison duty allowance is paid to personnel of the Permanent Defence Force below the rank of Commandant engaged on security duties in Portlaoise prison. The current daily Prison Duty allowance is between €84.37 and €86.71 depending on rank.

Regardless of employment on the Prison Duties, DF personnel are still in receipt of their pay, which is a matter of public record. In addition a Military Service Allowance is paid to all ranks up to the level of Colonel, and is designed to compensate for the special disadvantages associated with military life. This includes unsocial hours of duty, exposure to danger and the restrictions inherent in military discipline.

There is also a separate on call Portlaoise Hospital Guard Allowance for Enlisted Personnel of €28.12 (weekday) and €56.22 (Sunday and DF Holiday), for escorting prisoners to medical appointments.

With regards to the number of prisoners in Portlaoise Prison, this is a matter for the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice has advised that prison officers pay is a matter of public record and that allowances are also paid for Additional Hours (AH) and for working anti-social hours and times such as night shifts, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holiday shifts. These allowances are not generally fixed rates allowances, but are based on a percentage of the officer’s hourly pay. Under the Additional Hours system, officers may be contracted to work up to 360 additional hours per annum. Officers serving in Portlaoise Prison would in general, be more experienced and longer serving officers and would therefore be at the top end of the prison officer pay scale.

The Commission on the Defence Forces, which was published on the 9 February 2022, included a recommendation “That an immediate focus be given to standing down a number of current Defence Forces’ ATCP taskings which no longer seem justified in the current security situation”. These recommendations are currently under consideraion by my Department along with in-depth discussion and inter-departmental consultation. The intent is that following relevant consultation, and before the summer recess, I will revert to Government with a proposed response to the Commission's recommendations and a high-level action plan.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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901. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the funds allocated to or the costs associated with the Commission on the Future of Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29096/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The establishment of the Commission on the Defence Forces underpins the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces are fit for purpose, both in terms of meeting immediate requirements and also in terms of seeking to develop a longer term vision for beyond 2030. As the Deputy will be aware, the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was published on the 9th February 2022.

The report is being fully considered, in consultation with Ministerial colleagues and other stakeholders. The intent is that following relevant consideration, and before the summer recess, I will revert to Government with a proposed response to the Commission's recommendations and a high-level action plan.This high level plan will set out proposed initial timelines and oversight arrangements for its implementation.

Total expenditure to date for the Commission is €454,708.82.