Written answers
Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Department of Justice and Equality
Prison Service
Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of psychologists employed in each prison; and the number of vacant psychologist positions. [26137/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that, the IPS Psychology Service has engaged in concerted efforts and a targeted strategy to improve the recruitment of staff. They further advise that a recruitment competition for Staff Grade Psychologists has been recently advertised.
The table below Table 1 sets out the information requested by the Deputy.
Table 1: A breakdown of authorised, filled and locum psychologists per Grade
| Location | Number of Authorised Staff | Number of Staff Currently Assigned | Number of Vacant Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Prison Service Headquarters | 1 x Head of Psychology Services | 1 x Head of Psychology Services | 0 |
| Psychology Service HQ (Arbour Hill) | 1 x Principal Psychologist Manager | 0 | 1 x Principal Psychologist Manager |
| Psychology Service HQ (Arbour Hill/Midlands) | 1 x Principal Specialist Psychologist | 0 | 1 x Principal Specialist Psychologist |
| Arbour Hill | 1 x Senior Psychologist1 x Psychologist | 1 x Psychologist1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Locum Psychologist (to cover Acting Up) | 0 |
| Castlerea Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist2 x Psychologist | 2 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist |
| Cloverhill Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist1.4 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist0.4 x Psychologist1 x Psychologist in Training* 1 x Locum Psychologist | 0 |
| Cork Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist2 x Psychologists | 1 x Senior Psychologist2 x Psychologists | 0 |
| Limerick Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist2 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist1 x Psychologist1 x Psychologist in Training* | 0 |
| Loughan House | 1 x Psychologist | 0 | 1 x Psychologist |
| Midlands Prison including NVRU | 2 x Senior Psychologist2 x Senior Psychologists (Sexual Violence Programmes) 4 x Psychologists | 2 x Senior Psychologist2 x Senior Psychologists (Sexual Violence Programmes) 1 x Psychologist2 x Psychologists in Training* | 1 x Psychologist |
| Mountjoy Female Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist0.6 x WTE Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist0.6 x Psychologist | 0 |
| Mountjoy Male | 1 x Senior Psychologist4 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist4 x Psychologist 1 x Locum Psychologist (to cover Acting Up) | 0 |
| Portlaoise Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist | 0 |
| Wheatfield Prison | 1 x Senior Psychologist3 x Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist2 x Psychologist | 1 x Psychologist |
| Irish Prison Service College | 1 x Senior Psychologist | 1 x Senior Psychologist | 0 |
| Shelton Abbey | 1 x Psychologist | 1 x Psychologist | 0 |
| Training Unit | 0.4 x Psychologist | 0.4 x Psychologist | 0 |
| Overall Total | 40.4 | 34.4 + 3 locums (2 of which are covering maternity leave. | 6 |
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