Prison averaging 20 staff off sick each day

The Midlands Prison has a very high rate of staff absences with an average of 20 people on sick leave each day, the Prisons Inspector said today.

In a report on the Co Laois jail, which opened in November 2000, Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen said there were six people on continuous leave for more than six months and 68 members of the 396-strong staff were seeking a transfer.

A number of prisoners and staff were moved from the Curragh prison when it closed, and there was unease over the permanent location of the employees who were transferred, the report found.

Because of staff shortages – with 12 posts unfilled – facilities such as the censors office were often cut, and the prison governor said he had exceeded his overtime allocation by 2,700 hours.

Although the inspector described the modern prison as very impressive, he highlighted a number of areas which needed attention, including staff training provision.

His report said the lack of training in evacuation and fire drill procedures was particularly alarming.

Mr Justice Kinlen said the prison had only recently filled all of its probation staff posts, and the four officers had complained it was physically impossible to cope with the prison population of almost 440 inmates.

The report recommended a sex offenders programme be introduced into the prison and be led by the psychology staff, with input from the probation and welfare officers.

Mr Justice Kinlen said he was concerned that 225 prisoners – more than 50% of the population – were on disciplinary reports for misconduct such as smuggling drugs and assaults, and he raised questions over the severity of the punishment.

He said there were very good working and education facilities, with 28 full-time and 14 part-time teachers, an excellent library, and activities in gardening, carpentry, metalwork, a craft shop and computer workshop available.

But he said a situation in which a quarter of the prisoners were not employed or in education was not good, and urged that they be fully engaged as soon as possible.

Following his inspection in June and July of last year, he questioned why a purpose-built bakery on the site had never been put into use.

And he also recommended a large room which could double as a theatre and a chapel should be provided.