§ Colonel W. THORNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the concessions of pay, etc., granted to the prison services of England and Wales to take effect from 18th September last, have not been extended to the Irish prison service; and whether he or the General Prisons Board have yet received a deputation representative of the prison warders?
§ Mr. A. SAMUELSThe Chief Secretary received a deputation from the prison officers on Monday last, and their representations are engaging attention.
§ Colonel THORNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in the Irish country prisons a system exists whereby the clerk, warder and storekeeper warder relieve each other 1624W when either is absent through illness, or on annual leave, or any other reason; that this results in the duties of the two important posts of clerk and storekeeper being thrown upon the shoulders of one officer; that little relaxation is allowed to these two officers, who receive no remuneration for the extra duties they perform; whether he is aware that in country prisons, when a Class II. officer is absent for any reason his duties are discharged by a Class III. officer; that the latter officer receives no extra remuneration for discharging the duties pertaining to a Class II. officer; will he state why in these cases Class III. officers are not promoted to Class II., or at least receive the pay of the higher class while they are performing the duties of that class; and whether he will make inquiries into these matters, which are causing discontent in the service?
§ Mr. SAMUELSIn the smaller prisons the Governor who is personally responsible for the administration of his prison is allotted a certain number of warders of different ranks to assist him. The Governor, in his discretion, assigns these officers to perform special duties, such as office work, storekeeping work, hospital work, etc. Generally, he assigns senior officers who are specially qualified for the performance of the more important duties, and these officers relieve one another as occasion demands. The selection by the Governor of a Class III. officer temporarily to perform the duties usually done by a Class II. officer gives the Class III. officer an opportunity of acquiring special knowledge which would be considered amongst his qualifications for promotion to Class II. when opportunity arises. There is no authority to grant extra pay for the performance of such temporary work.