Government to recruit prison officers

 For the first time in eight years, a campaign to recruit prison officers for the Irish Prison Service is to get underway.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, today announced the opening of a recruitment campaign for new officers.

The Irish Prison Service expects to appoint up to 120 Recruit Prison Officers per year over the next 3 years with the first recruits entering the Irish Prison Service College in early 2017.

Recruit Prison Officer is the entry level to the Service and following the completion of 3 years’ service and the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care (HCCC) the new Recruit Prison Officer will be appointed as an Established Prison Officer.

The Tánaiste said: “This campaign will see the welcome addition of new Prison Officers to our prisons.

"The new staff will ensure that the Irish Prison Service is renewed and has the capacity to continue to provide safe, secure custody and rehabilitation in all prisons throughout the country”.

She continued: “Working as a Prison Officer can be complex and difficult but can also be varied, challenging and highly rewarding.

"While the duty of prison staff is to enhance public safety by holding securely those committed by the courts their role must be deeper than just a custodial function.

“Prison staff must have the capacity to relate to and engage with prisoners, act with professionalism and integrity, have tolerance and humanity and the ability to role model positive social behaviour.

"It is an important job and prison staff play a special role on behalf of society,” she added.

The Tánaiste encouraged all those interested in joining the Irish Prison Service as a Recruit Prison Officer to access the website of the Public Appointments Service and submit their application at www.publicjobs.ie

In particular she urged members of minority and new communities to consider applying so that the workforce of the Irish Prison Service reflected the diversity of our society which is replicated in our prison communities also.