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A TOTAL OF 36 staff at Cloverhill Prison in Dublin – almost one-fifth of the number due to work today – did not turn up for work after calling in sick today.
A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service confirmed the figure, describing it as “a significant staff shortfall.”
Overall 309 people are employed at the prison. It is understood that approximately 200 staff should work each day but the exact number could not be given for operational reasons.
The Irish Prison Service spokesperson said that the prison was functioning as normal as possible with staggered unlock time. In a statement the IPS said:
The prison has contingency plans in place to deal with such occurrences and the prison is functioning.Prison Service management continue to work with staff to try to reduce the level of sick leave among prison staff.
A further 16 people were out due on holiday days or maternity leave, making a total of 52 employees who were not at work today.
“The majority of the absentees, 36, were as a result of staff taking sick leave,” the prison service spokesperson told TheJournal.ie.
A legal source told TheJournal.ie that the total number of overtime hours allocated to the prison officers has been reached, meaning that officers will not be not be paid for any more overtime for the rest of this month.
TheJournal.ie also contacted Cloverhill Prison directly but were told “no comment” when asked why people had not come into work.
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Staff drinks last night?
I bet if these people didn’t get paid when they were sick they wouldn’t have this problem
@Alan b..: Some of those included in those numbers are out on long term sick leave (Cancer, Heart etc) other are out because they were injured while carrying out their duties, and as we know this time of year Colds and Flu are common. Like Hospitals, in Prisons sickness spreads rapidly because of the close confines of staff and inmates.
Nick the company I work for employs over 350 that are on the premises every day Monday to Friday very few are out long term sick maybe one or two at any given time.They don’t pay sick pay and guess what?they don’t have this issue with people calling in “sick” I wonder why
@Alan b..: Monday to Friday. 8 to 5 I assume? Try 7 days a week 365 days a year. Will you be Off on Christmas Day, St Stephens Day, New Years Day, St Patrick’s Day, Easter Monday and every Bank and Public Holiday throughout the year?
@Mick Jordan: Btw Are you claiming your company doesn’t pay for Maternity Leave? Or what if one of the Employees happen to get Cancer or have a Heart Attack and out sick?
24hrs a day 5 days a week with a skeleton staff in at weekends.it does pay maternity leave.mick where you work every woman must be either pregnant or on maternity leave or very unhealthy that they’re having hear attacks and cancer every other day.either that or you working for the public sector
Alan b.. 350 employees and you have very little sick. Kudos to you and your colleagues. Now a question for you; when was the last time anyone in your organisation was stabbed by a client, or jabbed with a syringe, or headbutted or any one of a thousand other physical assaults? When was the last time you held a client on your shoulders while your colleagues tried frantically to cut the ligature from around his neck(and then his bowels open whilst on your shoulders)? Or how about finding an addict, strung out and half dead because his body needs drugs or alcohol after years of abuse, choking on his own vomit and trying to save him? When you can identify with these and an infinite number of other miseries that visit prison staff daily then sir, you can compare sick rates. Until then, please don’t. By the way enjoy your Christmas holidays Alan. Remember as you are enjoying the turkey, the men and women of the Irish Prison Service who are away from their loved ones, at work because it’s their duty to do so:
@Alan b..: Thats why its called “Long Term Sick”. Or do the Employees in your workplace magically recover from Cancer or Heart Surgery or other necessary surgeries in a couple of days. As Ciaran has said when was the last time one of your fellow workers has been assaulted at work? Or have Contaminated Blood spat or sprayed on them? When was the last time you had to physically struggle with a customer/client covered in their own feces?
Lads they knew what they were signing up
for when they applied for the jobs what did they think they were going to be doing?
@Alan b..: Yes, they know what they are signing up for, what exactly does this have to do with anything? Should their injuries heal quicker, should their cancer clear up quicker?
They also knew that there was paid sick leave – that’s what their employer offers as part of the package – you clearly have an issue with that.
@Alan b..: And here we go. “They knew what they signed up to line”. Does it change anything? does it mean that Prison Officers shouldn’t suffer any ailments civilians suffer. Only recently has PTSD been recognised as a big factor in Frontline Workers sick. Many Frontline workers have PTSD but don’t even realise they have it putting down to everything from just feeling ill or stress to full blown depression.
Shut up know all
I’d say there might have been a lock in somewhere else alright….
Prison guards are a soft bunch.
A lot of companies don’t pay maternity or sick leave. Employees have to claim from the state. Employers are not obliged to pay these.
@Mick Jordan: Just out of curiosity, Mick, why do you capitalise some common nouns, but not others?
It’s the way I roll.
Its shocking that a staff prison shortage makes the news in Ireland.
Any of those boys locked up with mobile phones could use this to their advantage.
Not enough staff employed . NO new staff to cover those who retired. And this is what happens
It’s a well known scam in the prison service. 1 person calls in sick. They phone someone on their day off and they get double time for coming in. The person who rang in sick then comes in saying they are fine and because they are now technically rostered off, they work for double time too. While on paper, is still sick. Been happening for years.
Er, no it doesn’t and no it hasn’t.
@Peter Cavey: Prison Officers have their overtime built into their rosters 3 months in advance, Short notice overtime hasn’t happened in 9 years. So you if are going to make things up at least have some knowledge of what you speak.
That is outright bulls@#t Peter
@Peter Cavey:@Peter Cavey:u have absolutely no clue what you are talking about . Kindly Try get your facts straight before commenting on a public forum ..
You’re an ape
Peter Cavey you are an idiot.. but im going to try that one next week. In fact im going to do that everyday from now on. Double bubble !!!!
Fact
Get your facts correct, someone goes sick today they are not replaced
What a stupid ill informed statement to make , how can someone ring in sick , change his mind and then work double time ,remember this is his rostered day on .
Could have a HMP Birmingham riot on their hands if their not careful. 600 inmates rioting there now. Took over the gym ,pharmacy and the security equipment store. Ouch…
@The Viking: HMP Birmingham happens to be a Privately run Prison by G4S. They lost control of first one wing then a second, after that evacuated the entire Prison of staff instead of containing the riot, leaving the inmates to take over another 2 wings and the Admin Offices. And now need HM Prison Service Staff to go in retake the Prison, restore order and clean up the mess made by amateurs.
And this is why Private Prisons are an utter disaster. Staff that are under trained, inexperienced, poorly paid. Prisons deliberately left under staffed because staff cut into profits.
Agree with you fully @Mick Jordan. I know HMP Birmingham is run by private security firms. I only last week watched another privately run prison documentary. Showing how they have lost control. Prisoners openly using drugs. Mainly bath salts that turn them agressive and even on the spot heart attacks. The prisoners had the run of the place. Don’t need that happening here.
Still I think I would prefer to have a more economical private sector service like s4c. The Irish prision service is a total scam on the tax payer. It is a well known fact that the taxpayer is paying these staff far too much, as it is paying all the other public service scammers, i.e. the guards, nurses, teachers and the lot. they are overpaid and the pensions are crazy generous and then they abuse us by taking so much sick leave, way more than in the private sector. The public sector in Ireland shoul be privatised.
@Jeremy DeChad: 90% of all riots and major disturbances in the UK and in the US have taken place in Privately Run Prisons in the past 10 years. If that doesn’t tell you something is very wrong then you are either ignoring the problem or just don’t care.
@Jeremy DeChad: Btw Jeremy. The last riot consisting of around 50 inmates in Mountjoy took Officers around 3 minutes from the time they moved in to the time every inmate involved was on the floor handcuffed. Why? Because Professional Officers like our colleagues in HM Prison Service are extensively trained in riot control unlike those in companies like G4S who are given the minimum amount of training and because there is such a high turnover of staff very little build up of experience to work from.
Why do the UK and US have private security firms run prisions? Yes that is right because they cost alot less than 5 star salaries that the Irish Govt pays to run our prisons. As a tax payer I would like a more economical public service as we are being scrxxxd in this country, it would be nice to have a few bob left over after income tax usc and all the other taxes so that we can put something aside for our retirement because we in the private sector will not be getting a public employee pension. Regarding how professionally the riots are dealt with – that is great I am sure but somehow I think you are spouting propaganda because I have never hear of that before and it is not worth the cost.
@Jeremy see the article above about a library in cork being closed. Why aren’t efficiencies being made in jails instead?
@Jeremy DeChad:
You think that it’s economical? You think the cost of the burning prison in the UK comes from thin air? Legal cases, sick leave, prisoner deaths – when you put everything down to pounds, shillings and pence then it always costs more in the long run. Always.
@Random_paddy: Close the prison libraries? Really?
@Jeremy DeChad: And why does nobody else use them? Why is in the US some States are not renewing contracts with these companies. And as for costing less. Whom do you think picks up the bill for destroyed Prisons, for legal claims by inmates? In fact is has been shown that Private Prisons on the whole cost 1.5 times more than Government run Prisons. So I would go learn a little about what you speak of before making comment on a subject you obviously know nothing about.
Jeremy If you cant beat them join them. Come work for the public service, its great. Just booking my flights here for my holiday home in dubai !!!!
Sorry I dont believe a word you say – you are too invested in this issue to be objective. I would be more likely to believe the common sence of UK and US politicians who made a decision to economise by privatising the prisions, our lot clearly dont have the bxxls to do it. Ask the people of Portlaoise about all the well healed prison officers in their midst.
@Derek Trotter: I recently passed the interview stage with the public appointments service. Roll on next year for my Beemer, Benz or Bentley allowance!!!
@Jeremy DeChad: You don’t have to believe me. A little research on your own part would confirm everything I have said and left you looking less stupid.
Your too invested in this issue to be objective !!!! Ha lets get somebody who knows nothing about prisons to make the decisions … lets base all these decisions on economics. Its a mental job jeremy that unless youve worked at you aint got a clue.
Derek, No I would not join them as I believe in earning my way in the world, it must be soul distroying to be taking all the time and the govt is not really qualified to run a business or service so working in that environment must be soul distroying, as witnessed by the constant whinging of govt. employees despite their over generous remuneration, a bit like really miserable rich people, look at the mess that the govt. have made of the health service, do they still call it Angola or was it Rwanda?, Having said that I object to being scrxxed over by the public service, and I would like to see them being treated fairly ie having their remuneration reduced and having far fewer of them and giving taxpayers a fair deal. Hope you dont mind me saying so.
Welcome marcos Unf your first allowance will only cover a bmw but stick with it and you ll have a range in no time. Now you dont pay tax, usc, pension levy etc were exempt from that. We get a massive pension and you can retire young. Only condition you have to pretend you work for a living !!!
@Jeremy DeChad: You are invested in the issue too, as a taxpayer and rightfully so, but it is common knowledge how privatisation has failed in the UK and the US, personally I wouldn’t like our system that way and it isn’t cheap so don’t be fooled.
716 per 100,000 in the USA against 80 per 100,000 in Ireland
307 per 100,000 in the UK.
It’s neither cheap nor economical.
@Jeremy DeChad: Wow, condescending or what.
You sound bitter and jealous – hope you don’t mind me saying so,
It is soul destroying working in a prison jeremy and lets not pretend otherwise. Do I rate the goverment or the hse ? No not one bit but I have respect for guards, teachers, nurses, po’s, firefighters etc Do I want more for my tax money ? Of course I do. Few less staff ? I worked on a landing today with 30 prisoners and just myself. So I would like a few more bodies in our service. So when people run the men/women I work with down Ill stand up for them everytime because I know what they give to their job. We do earn our way in the world nothing special about you pal …
@Jeremy DeChad: “No I would not join them as I believe in earning my way in the world”, In other words I wouldn’t work for the pittance you lot do for the type of work you do.
Linda I am just quite fed up of the public sector and the government, after tax and usc and my private pension contributions I have SFA left over to live each month despite being a well qualified person with many years service. I am seeing the Govt levy my pension over recent years and they have extended the retirement age in the private sector to 68, no sign of restoration on those fronts. So while I am not jealous, I want to refute the lies that we constantly hear from vested interests in the public sector. I also enjoy commenting and giving my opinion, hope you do not take undue offence.
Jeremy Speaking only in relation to people who work in prisons. Were fed up of the goverment. Im sick of having sfa after tax, usc and pension levy. I can retire at 60 so I guess thats a pluss. Our service is full of people with degrees, trades etc. Its called life jeremy were no differnt. The grass isnt always greener pal.
@Jeremy DeChad: I hear you Jeremy, they pay the same taxes, the same USC, pension contributions,
Prison Officers aren’t complaining about pay, they have paid sick leave, they take sick leave – like the entire Public Sector.
Your issue is with the Government, don’t target the people who chose to do the job, that isn’t fair.
They work long hours, they work in pretty tough conditions, they know the risks, they do it for pay – like you do.
There’s no lies being pedalled here.
@Jeremy DeChad: So do you think Public Servants don’t pay the same taxes you do, don’t pay into their pension the same as you, don’t have the same domestic bills you do?
You may want to explain that those Prison Officers sleeping in their Cars because they can’t afford to pay Dublin rents as well has the Mortgage on their family home.
Respect ..
Jeremy, maybe your ire should be aimed at how money is spent within the prisons on the “clients” rather than the people who work there. The staffs pay has been decimated whilst schemes, services and benefits have soared for the criminals that are locked up. Any chance savings could be made there, ya know, our tax dollars…..just a thought..
@Mick Jordan: “And this is why Private Prisons are an utter disaster. Staff that are under trained, inexperienced, poorly paid. Prisons deliberately left under staffed because staff cut into profits.”
I don’t recall anyone suggesting that private prisons be introduced here in Ireland, so I don’t think the cushy little number that you have is under threat. And I’m sure the British will get by without your advice.
I am sure they will David/Fintan. It doesn’t alter the fact that Private Prisons in the UK have had the more Riots, Escapes, Assaults, Staff turnover and financial scandals than their Government run counter parts in the past 10 years of operation.
@Derek, Sounds fantastic. A plush seat inside a Range Rover should make up for all of the nasty comments from the mental faeces of all the Jeremy types I read online. Btw..”You knew what you signed up for” is pretty much the same as telling a rape victim that she was asking for it Jeremy. Just because a prison officer puts on a uniform to go work does not give anyone the right to punch, bite, kick, spit or threaten them at work. This happens yes, but it doesnt mean that people don’t need self care to protect their own physical and mental health from the consequences. I have every idea of what im getting into but if somebody broke my nose at work I would not be ashamed to call in sick because people like you breathe air.
Marcos After your days work readjusting to normal life is one of the hardest things. When you spend majority of your day with drug abusers who will do unspeakable things to themselves and others to then going home to your family is mad. It takes time to get used to. People like jeremy will always have a go because they know the job. They think they do but nobody does until they experience it. I wish I had the job jeremy thinks I do. But hey best of luck on your start.
Hats off to anyone that can do that job I know guards that would never do the job of a PO it’s not for the faint hearted yes the know what they signed up for but the state still have a duty of care towards their employees welfare a job like that should have in my opinion a hell of a lot more paid leave than the norm for a start and the wages now a days are nothing to cry home about compared to some years back not an easy job they do
300+ staff on the books for circa 450 inmates? Is it a holiday camp or what? Disgraceful figures considering services for the countries functioning citizens are curtailed instead. Ratio should be more like 10:1.
@Random_paddy: So you think Staff don,t get days off, or work nights? Prison Staff work 12 hrs Shifts 7 Days a Week 365 day a year. So in reality 50% of the Staff are due on and 50% are due off.
Now of the 50% due on some will be assisting the Prison Service Escort Corp in manning courts, others will be transferring Prisoners to other Prison across the country, some will be doing mandatory refresher training. That is before you take away those Staff that would have been due on but are on entitled leave, maternity leave, long term sick leave. So you do the Math.
Whats left have to Run the Kitchen, reception were incoming and out going prisoners are processed, supervise inmates visits book inmates visits and take in property for inmates, the Main Gates where all traffic in and out of the Prison must go be checked and cleared, provide security for the school, man exercise yards, landings, inmates tuck shop, laundry and provide security for outside agencies entering the prison.
Yeah paddy, all 300 staff are standing there, watching them. Idiot.
Does that include the masseuse, on site entertainers, personal trainers etc. ? My point is merely that this is yet another state body running anything but lean and the idiot taxpayer foots the bill.
@Random_paddy: If you are trying in your own snide way referring to outside agencies, they would be Doctors from the CMH, GP’s, Optician’s Dentists, Probation Officers, Council Resettlement Officers, Visiting Committee members, Prisoner Complaints Investigators, The Inspector of Prisons and Staff, People from Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and other counseling services.
Who was planning the Rota?
The rota planner.
It looks like screws, and especially their chief spokesperson Mick Jordan, want not only to be overpaid, but also over-admired, or at least not subject to any kind of criticism at all. That is the impression one gets reading the comments here and noting that a quarter of the total – 15 out of 64 – are by the bould Mick himself. Hahaha
What I can’t help wondering is why, if a screw’s work is so onerous and the remuneration so paltry, they don’t seek other employment and see whether they will do better with the same level of education they have.
Ahh David or should I say Fintanoflaois. I was wondering when you would appear. Been reading some of your Twitter. Man you need some anger management therapy. The foul language and nasty comments to those others you are tweeting too and about tut tut.
I was talking to a couple of colleagues about your posts Fintan and one remembered a Fintan $#@! from Laois that was sacked from the Prison Service about 24-25 years ago for nefarious activities and a few years later his sons were jailed for the same activities. Would that be you? It would certainly explain your hatred of the Prison Service. But you really should get some professional help for all that anger inside you.
@Mick Jordan: By all means spread whatever innuendo comes into your dirty little mind about me. However, I would prefer if you stuck to the topic of a thread and dealt with arguments rather than attempting to defame those who disagree with you. You are clearly a lout and a bully, and I am only glad when you descend to personal abuse, because everyone can see you doing it. I hope you also understand that your aggressive attitude and willingness to fling mud is not doing much to enhance the image of the prison service that you claim I hate.
What abuse? Do you consider asking a simple question abuse? And you say I am sensitive!! And you are losing your temper again. I would suggest a lay down, some deep breathing, soothing music and chill.
@David Quim: You’re asking Mick Jordan to stick with the topic of the thread? Can I remind you of your first post:
“It looks like screws, and especially their chief spokesperson Mick Jordan, want not only to be overpaid, but also over-admired, or at least not subject to any kind of criticism at all. That is the impression one gets reading the comments here and noting that a quarter of the total – 15 out of 64 – are by the bould Mick himself. Hahaha
What I can’t help wondering is why, if a screw’s work is so onerous and the remuneration so paltry, they don’t seek other employment and see whether they will do better with the same level of education they have.”
Maybe if you stick to the topic instead of attacking a poster then you could be taken seriously, You personally abused him, you are the lout, you are the bully, you are the aggressor and you have no problem flinging mud.
Linda. You will probably remember David here in his other persona Fintanoflaois. Have a read of David’s Twitter account and you will understand what I mean about anger management.
@Mick Jordan: I see what you mean.
Could be noravirus !
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