Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2024
290. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of senior psychologists and staff grade psychologists recruited into the Irish Prison Service in 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of senior psychologists and staff grade psychologists who left the Irish Prison Service during the same period, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26790/24]
View answerThe 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.
The Irish Prison Service continually monitors staffing requirements and vacancies across the organisation, which arise as a result of multiple factors such as mobility, resignations, promotions and retirements, and recruitment campaigns are launched accordingly.
There is currently a live competition to recruit Clinical/Counselling (Staff Grade) Psychologists.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of Senior Grade Psychologists and Staff Grade Psychologists who have joined and the number who have left the Irish Prison Service in 2023 and to-date in 2024 is provided in the tables below.
|
Grade |
Number recruited in 2023 |
Number who exited the IPS in 2023 |
|
Senior Psychologist |
0* |
4 |
|
Staff Grade Psychologist |
4 |
2 |
* In the course of 2023, 5 established Staff Grade Psychologists were promoted into the role of Senior Psychologists and remain in post.
|
Grade |
Number recruited in 2024 |
Number who exited the IPS in 2024 |
|
Senior Psychologist |
0 |
0 |
|
Staff Grade Psychologist |
3 |
0 |
