Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1170. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for a breakdown by prison, in tabular form, for the number and grade of psychologists currently working within the Irish prison psychology service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38330/23]
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.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the Psychology Service has the following sanctioned posts including a Head of Service, a Principal Psychologist Manager, a Principal Psychologist Specialist, 13 Senior Psychologists, 22.6 Psychologists, 14 Assistant Psychologists, 2 trainee Psychologists sponsored by the Irish Prison Service (being trained via University College Cork) and 2 additional trainee Psychologists due to commence this month.
The Assistant Psychologists are a fixed term contract unqualified grade not included in psychologist numbers or psychologists to prisoner ratios* . The table below outlines the number and grade of psychologists currently working within the Irish prison psychology service.
The annual recruitment campaign has just come to an end for 2023, with a panel of senior psychologists and psychologists recently formed. It is intended to fill vacancies from the panel before the end of the year. An Assistant Psychologist recruitment campaign is scheduled for later this year. Advertisements for locum psychologists have also proved successful in recent months.
|
- |
|
|
Location |
Number of Staff Currently Assigned |
|
Irish Prison Service Headquarters |
1 x Head of Psychology Services |
|
Psychology Service HQ (Arbour Hill) |
1 x Principal Psychologist Manager 1 x Principal Psychologist Specialist (vacant) |
|
Arbour Hill |
1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist 1 x Assistant Psychologist (vacant) |
|
Castlerea Prison |
1 x Senior Psychologist (vacant) 2 x Psychologists 1 x Assistant Psychologist |
|
Cloverhill Prison |
1 x Senior Psychologist (vacant, covered by Acting Senior Psychologist) 1.6 x Psychologist (vacant) 1 x Assistant Psychologist (vacant) |
|
Cork Prison |
1 x Senior Psychologist 2 x Psychologists 1 x Assistant Psychologist |
|
Limerick Prison |
1 x Senior Psychologist 2 x Psychologists (2 vacant) 1 x Assistant Psychologist (vacant) |
|
Loughan House |
0.6 WTE Psychologist |
|
Midlands Prison |
2 x Senior Psychologists (1 vacant) 3 x Psychologists (1 vacant) 3 x Assistant Psychologists (3 x vacant) |
|
Mountjoy Female Prison |
1 x Senior Psychologist 0.6 x Psychologist 1 x Assistant Psychologist (vacant) |
|
Mountjoy Male |
1 x Senior Psychologist (vacant, covered by Acting Senior Psychologist) 4 x Psychologists (1 vacant) 2 x Assistant Psychologist (1 x vacant)
|
|
Portlaoise Prison |
1 Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist 1 x Assistant Psychologist (vacant) |
|
Shelton Abbey |
0.6 x Psychologist (vacant) |
|
Wheatfield Prison |
1 x Senior Psychologist (vacant, covered by Acting Senior Psychologist) 3 x Psychologists (2 vacant) 2 x Assistant Psychologist
|
|
National Violence Reduction Unit |
1 x Senior Psychologist 1 x Psychologist (vacant) |
|
Irish Prison Service College |
1 x Senior Psychologist |
|
Training Unit |
0.4 WTE Psychologist |
* Assistant Psychologists must be eligible for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland and are clinically supervised by a qualified Psychologist (assigned by the local Senior Psychologist) and line managed by the local Senior Psychologist (or his/her nominated designate). Supervision is strictly in line with Psychological Society of Ireland Guidelines. Assistant Psychologists role is to -
• Support local and national IPS Psychology Services and enhance the contribution of qualified Psychologists.
• Support the primary care mental health needs of those in custody.
• Provide an enhanced level of support to young people in custody.
• Support service-related initiatives.
