Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald has said significant savings and reforms set out in the Haddington Road Agreement for the prison service have not been achieved.
Replying to a query from Labour Senator John Whelan, the minister said that while the prison population has fallen by 18% since 2011, the number of prison staff has fallen by just 3% over the same period.
She acknowledged that over the last four years, significant reform and modernisation had taken place in the prison service, and praised the constructive engagement of the Prison Officers' Association in that process.
This had allowed the service to operate with reduced staffing levels that ensured the safety of all prison service personnel, she said, but added that the required savings had not been secured.
The POA is currently balloting members for industrial action amid claims that existing agreements have been breached in a way that has jeopardised working conditions and safety.
The minister said management in the Irish Prison Service were fully committed to a programme ensuring that staff had a safe and dignified working environment.
She stated that a number of implementation issues had arisen recently in relation to the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements, but assured the House that management had at all times continued to engage with the POA on the issues through well-established mechanisms.
She said she had also contacted the POA's general secretary to reaffirm the commitment of the management in the Irish Prison Service to engage with the union.
The POA ballot result will be announced next week.
