Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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493. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will strongly consider an organisation (details supplied) for State funding towards its operational managerial costs and towards GP costs for its members, in view of the sterling work that it is carrying out and the costs it has saved the State in the long run; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25691/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that senior officials of the Irish Prison Service have met with the Prison Officers Medical Aid Society (POMAS) on a number of occasions over the last 6 months in order to gain an understanding of their current situation and the range of services they provide to their members. This range of services is similar in nature to what comparable organisations such as An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces receive through the St Paul's Medical Scheme and the newly announced medical scheme for the Defence Forces respectively.

POMAS have outlined the significant challenges they are facing due to the exponential increase in medical costs and the Irish Prison Service have committed to meeting POMAS again in the near future in order to identify what supports the Prison Service can provide, subject to the availability of the necessary resources.