asked the Minister for Justice the average (a) basic; (b) overtime working hours of full-time prison officers in Mountjoy prison.

4.

asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied with the overtime arrangements presently in operation in Mountjoy prison.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.

Prison officers are required to work a 40-hour week before qualifying for overtime. The average overtime per week during the month of May was 16 hours per officer. I am satisfied that the governor allocates overtime work in a fair and responsible manner.

Is overtime compulsory or optional?

It is not compulsory. I understand that if officers are asked to work overtime in addition to the 40-hour week they generally comply with the request.

Is it obligatory or not?

There is no absolute obligation on prison officers to work overtime but generally they are anxious to do so.

My information is that prison officers are forced to work overtime.

This is information.

I am asking the Minister to investigate this. I have been told that prison officers who can no longer stick the pace have to go sick in order to get a day off.

I will have the matter investigated as suggested. Prison officers work what might be described as an inordinate amount of overtime and sometimes this strains their personal health and well-being. A submission is being sent to the Department of the Public Service by the Department of Justice seeking the creation of a considerable number of new posts to service new security needs and to reduce hardship caused to prison officers.

Could the Minister say when it is hoped to recruit additional officers?

While not in any way shifting the blame to the Department of the Public Service, all we are doing is waiting for sanction to recruit a considerable number of new staff.

I take it the Department recognise the unsatisfactory conditions and are doing something about the matter.

The Department are aware of the problems in relation to the working of overtime by prison officers and are doing something about it.

It applies not just to Mountjoy but also to Portlaoise.

The questions were specifically related to Mountjoy.

5.