Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
830. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of sanctioned psychologist posts, by prison including the number of vacant posts, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63820/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of the Psychology Service in the Irish Prison Service 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.
Psychologists are employed directly 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. The latter is a fixed term contract unqualified grade.
The Psychology Service has engaged in a concerted effort to improve the recruitment and retention of Psychologists. A recruitment campaign for Psychologists recently concluded, resulting in the formation of a panel and it is anticipated that the current psychologist vacancies will be filled from this panel.
Table 1 attached shows the number of sanctioned psychologists post broken down by prison. Table 2 attached shows the number of current vacant psychologists post broken down by prison.
Table 1. Number of sanctioned Psychologist posts by Prison
|
Prison |
Head of Psychology |
Principal Psychologist Manager |
Principal Specialist (SVP) |
Senior Psychologist |
Senior Psychologist Specialist (Senior SVP) |
Staff Grade Psychologist |
Assistant Psychologist |
|
Arbour Hill |
|
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Castlerea |
|
|
|
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
Loughan House |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Cloverhill |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1.4 |
1 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Cork |
|
|
|
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
Mountjoy Female |
|
|
|
1 |
|
.6 |
1 |
|
Limerick Female |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Limerick Male |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Mountjoy Male |
|
|
|
1 |
|
4 |
2 |
|
Training Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
.4 |
|
|
Midlands |
|
|
|
1 |
|
3 |
3 |
|
Midlands NVRU |
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
Portlaosie |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Wheatfield |
|
|
|
1 |
|
3 |
2 |
|
IPSC |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
HQ |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
1 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
3 |
23.4 |
14 |
Table 2: Number of vacant Psychologist posts by Prison
|
Prison |
Head of Psychology |
Principal Psychologist Manager |
Principal Specialist (SVP) |
Senior Psychologist |
Senior Psychologist Specialist (Senior SVP) |
Staff Grade Psychologist |
Assistant Psychologist |
|
Arbour Hill |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Castlerea |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
Loughan House |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Cloverhill |
|
|
|
|
|
1.4 |
|
|
Shelton Abbey |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Cork |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mountjoy Female |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Limerick Female |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Limerick Male |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mountjoy Male |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Training Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Midlands |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
Midlands NVRU |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Portlaosie |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wheatfield |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
IPSC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HQ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
8.4 |
|
