Contacts between the Prison Officers Association and the Irish Prison Service aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute over prison officers overtime will resume in the morning.
Earlier, both sides met at the Labour Relations Commission to finalise a package of measures which if agreed would see prison officers compensated for a reduction in their overtime hours.
In May 2003, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell told the POA conference that annual overtime in the prison service would have to be cut by €34 million.
Since then a standoff has developed, leading to the closure of two prisons and threats to outsource certain prison officer jobs.
Today however proposals were tabled which will see prison officers each receive €14,000 in compensation over three years, a new annual allowance based on 8% of basic pay and a new overtime rate.
In return they will agree to work seven hours of pre-agreed overtime a week, and take on work practice changes.
Once finalised, the proposals will go to the Executive Council of the POA, and a full national ballot of members.
