Written answers
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
Department of Justice and Equality
Prison Service
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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887. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of doubling the number of psychologists in the Irish Prison Service. [27608/23]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The role of the Psychology Service in the Irish Prison Service is to deliver, develop and manage an integrated mental health and criminogenic needs assessment and treatment service for people in custody, in line with service plans and objectives, and within established professional standards, guidelines and policy.
I am informed that the Prison Service currently employ various psychologist grades, including;
- Head of Psychological Services,
- Principal Psychologist Manager,
- Senior Psychologists (Grade I),
- Staff Grade Psychologists (Grade II), and
- Assistant Psychologists - an unqualified grade currently employed on a 2 year fixed term contract.
*This figure is inclusive of employers PRSI and based on the relevant up to date salary scales valid from 1st march 2023.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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888. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he has information on what process is in place to allow charitable organisations or people make donations to prison libraries. [27629/23]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Library Services book collections are managed by librarians appointed through the relevant County Council in the prison locality. The Prison Librarian manages library collection development which includes the addition of new books. An annual budget is provided for the update of prison library stock to keep the library collections relevant. Prisoners are encouraged to make requests for books and the library aims to stay current with the purchase of bestselling titles.
An offer of donation can be made at info@irishprisons.ie following which the contact information is passed to the local prison librarian for a decision on acceptance of the donated books. The decision to accept or otherwise will depend on an evaluation of a wide range of factors including the suitability of the collection, the condition of the books, the profile of prisoners and their interests and the current needs and capacity of the library.
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