Written answers
Monday, 9 September 2024
Department of Justice and Equality
Prison Service
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
1145.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of WTE psychologists employed in each prison and the number of vacant positions for psychologists , in tabular form.[35079/24]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The role of the Psychology Service in the Irish Prison Service (IPS) is to develop, deliver 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.
The information requested by the Deputy on the number of psychologist employed in each Prison and the number of vacant posts as of 31 August 2024, is provided in the table below:
| Location | Grade | Filled Posts | Vacant Posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbour Hill Prison | Senior Psychologist Staff Grade Psychologist *Assistant Psychologist | 1 1 1 | 0 0 0 |
| Castlerea Prison | Senior Psychologist Staff Grade Psychologist *Assistant Psychologist | 0 2 0 | 1 0 1 |
| Cloverhill Prison | Senior Psychologist Staff Grade Psychologist *Assistant Psychologist | 1 0 1 | 0 1.4 0 |
| Cork Prison | Senior Psychologist Staff Grade Psychologist *Assistant Psychologist | 1 2 1 | 0 0 0 |
| Irish Prison Service College | Senior Psychologist | 1 | 0 |
| Irish Prison Service Headquarters | Head of Service Principal Psychologist Manager Principal Specialist Psychologist | 0 1 0 | 1 0 1 |
| Limerick Prison | Senior Psychologist Staff Grade Psychologist *Assistant Psychologist | 1 1 0 | 0 1 1 |
| Loughan House | Staff Grade Psychologist | 0 | 1 |
| Mountjoy Prison | Senior Psychologist Staff Grade Psychologist *Assistant Psychologist | 1 2 1 | 0 2 1 |
| Mountjoy Female Prison/Training Unit | Senior Psychologist Staff Grade Psychologist *Assistant Psychologist | 1 1 1 | 0 0 0 |
| Midlands Prison | Senior Psychologist Senior Psychologist (Sexual Violence) Staff Grade Psychologist Assistant Psychologist | 1 2 0 3 | 0 0 1 0 |
| National Violence Reduction Unit (NVRU) | Senior Psychologist | 1 | 0 |
| Portlaoise Prison | Senior Psychologist Staff Grade Psychologist *Assistant Psychologist | 1 0 1 | 0 1 0 |
| Shelton Abbey | Staff Grade Psychologist | 1 | 0 |
| Wheatfield Prison | Senior Psychologist Staff Grade Psychologist *Assistant Psychologist | 1 1 1 | 0 1 1 |
| Total | 35 | 15.4 |
Additionally there are four Staff Grade Psychologist posts which has been re-directed towards four training posts on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme in UCC, all of which are filled. There are currently 3.4 locum Psychologists and one locum Senior Psychologist employed by the Irish Prison Service.
The Irish Prison Psychology Service has the following authorised posts: a Head of Service, a Principal Psychologist Manager, a Principal Specialist Psychologist, 14 Senior Psychologists, 23.4 Staff Grade Psychologists and 14 Assistant Psychologists. A recruitment campaign for Staff Grade Clinical/Counselling Psychologists has recently concluded, resulting in the formation of a panel from which it is expected that all current Staff Grade Psychologist vacancies will be filled.
No comments