McDowell raises prison privatisation spectre as pay row continues

THE privatisation of parts of the prison service is a possibility, Justice Minister Michael McDowell has warned.

The minister said he would have no hesitation considering using private investors to carry out building works if that is what it takes to balance the prison service books.

His position has raised fears among prison officers that the long-term agenda is to privatise some of the country’s jails.

Officers from Britain, at the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) annual conference in Galway, spoke out against privatisation, where 12 of the jails are run by private firms. Following privatisation, they claimed, there was a noticeable drop in health and safety standards and changes to pay and conditions for officers.

The Justice Department said yesterday plans for private prisons were not on the table. But there is a greater possibility that areas of the service such as prisoner escorts could be contracted out.

Mr McDowell said: “The prison service needs capital expenditure. If I had to secure capital investment from outside exchequer resources, I would consider doing so.”

He raised the spectre of privatisation as the row over overtime payments, and how to effectively abolish them, continues. He has given officers a three-month deadline to agree a new cost effective package.