360 new jobs to be created in the prison service over the next 3 years
Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has announced that the prison service will be will be creating 360 jobs for Dublin over the next three years.
Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald revealed that the prison service plans to take on 120 new officers per year for the next three years. The first entrants into the Irish Prison Service College will be starting in early 2017.
The first recruits will enter the Irish Prison Service College in early 2017.
After three years of service and earning a Higher Certificate in Custodial Care, they will be appointed as established prison officers.
This is the first time since 2008 that the service has hired new staff.
The Tanaiste, who is also the Minister for Justice, described the role of a prison officer as “complex and difficult but also varied, challenging and highly rewarding”.
She said: “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 custodian 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.”
She particularly encouraged members of minority communities to apply for the positions to reflect the diversity in Ireland’s prisons.
The roles have a salary ranging between €22,677 and €26,886.
A different pay scale may apply if the person has already worked in the public service.
They will work an average of 39 hours per week, including night shifts, shifts every second weekend, some public holidays and over festive seasons.
Anyone interested can submit an application at www.publicjobs.ie.
