Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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122. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will allocate the necessary funding for anti-stab vests to be issued to each frontline prison officers. [21447/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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A Personal Protective Equipment review group, which includes representatives from the Irish Prison Service, State Claims Agency and the Prison Officers Association, was established in 2024. This group will conduct a fresh review of the requirement for PPE for operational staff in our prisons.

I am informed by my officials that a range of Personal Protective Equipment was considered by the review group, and that the deployment of stab-proof vests was not being prioritised at this time. However, this may be reviewed in the future.

The Government continues to make significant funding available to the Irish Prison Service, and an increase of €79m (18%) was secured in Budget 2025 towards a total of €525m in funding.