Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1691. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of incidents successfully de-escalated by prison officers without the use of physical force in each of the years 2022 to date, by prison, in tabular form; his views on the collection of data in this circumstance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46964/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Incidents of conflict can range from minor verbal incidents or disagreements amongst prisoners, which are easily resolved through dialogue and communications, to more serious incidents including violent incidents where a more physical intervention is required.

De-escalation and communication are major components of the conflict resolution training given to all prison officers. They play a significant role in how they carry out their duties. Many incidents are resolved, where de-escalation, communication and the inter-personal skills of prison officers are used and prevent the need for a physical response.

Only cases where violence or aggression are used or where the physical intervention of staff is required are recorded. Therefore, it is not possible to quantify the total number of incidents that are resolved by prison officers using conflict resolution techniques, including without the use of physical force.

The use of a physical intervention is governed by Prison Rule 93 which states “where, for the purpose of maintaining or restoring good order or safe or secure custody, it is deemed necessary to use force in relation to a Prisoner, such force only as is reasonably necessary and proportionate to achieve that purpose shall be used”. Physical interventions involving the use of force are governed by the Irish Prison Service Use of Force Standard Operating Procedures which states that “the Use of Force should only be undertaken as a last resort, after all other attempts to resolve or de-escalate the situation have failed.”

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1692. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of sick days taken by prison officers in the years 2022 to date; the average days lost per employee each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46965/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the total number of sick days taken and the average days lost per employee for the period 2022 to date is provided in the table below. It should also be noted, Occupational Injury or Disease (OID) related sick leave and pregnancy-related sick leave is extracted from these figures.

The management of sick leave in the Irish Prison Service is in line with public sector DPER circulars, the relevant circular is Circular 12/2023 – Management of Sick Leave in the Civil Service. The circular outlines the roles and responsibilities of individual staff members, line managers, HR and the CMO in effectively managing all sick leave absences from the first day. The Irish Prison Service has a number of staff support mechanisms. Employees are encouraged to avail of these services to assist in a safe and timely return to work.