IPS rejects overtime proposals

PROPOSALS which prison officers claim could cut their overtime bill by up to €30 million have been rejected by the Irish Prison Service (IPS), making prison closures more likely.

Yesterday, spokesman for the IPS, Jim Mitchell, said the compromise plan submitted by the Prison Officers Association (POA) aimed at ending the overtime row, was not a basis for negotiations.

“The proposals did not deal with the core cost issue. They were couched in terms which would have involved an increase in basic pay. This is something which is ruled out under the partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress.”

The POA proposals include the setting up of a national prison service escort corps; the use of vans with individual cells to transport passengers, requiring less staff; the elimination of officers accompanying prisons to court; the elimination of manually-operated gates and the rationalisation of stores sections.

Mr Mitchell said the IPS would be reporting back to Justice Minister Michael McDowell in the next couple of days with a view to implementing contingency plans. The plans were drawn up by the IPS after the POA refused the minister’s offer of €10,300 extra in return for working up to 360 hours overtime per year.

Mr McDowell has already said he would act to reduce overtime if the offer wasn’t accepted by the deadline.

The closure of four prisons - Shelton Abbey, Loughan House, Spike Island and the Curragh - is widely predicted.

However, POA deputy general secretary, Eugene Dennehey, said if the Government rejected their proposals, they would seek a 39-hour week for members, leaving the minister with the headache of sorting out overtime cover.

Meanwhile, responding to claims by Mountjoy governor, John Lonergan, that prison officers have “big houses, big mortgages, big cars and foreign holidays” as a result of working “wicked hours”, POA vice president, Gerry Wilson, said Mr Lonergan “of all people should be more than aware that most overtime is compulsory”.