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Irish Prison Service
https://www.irishprisons.ie
Full-Time
03/09/2026
08/10/2026, 15:00
Recruit Prison Officer
Permanent
Public Sector
Accessibility Information: We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act. Please see our Statement on Accessibility
Please note that the language you choose to begin your application with cannot be changed once the "Apply" button is selected. If your application form is in English, your communications will be in English.
To submit your application through Irish and receive communications in Irish, please ensure you are on the Irish language version of our website www.publicjobs.ie/ga before you access the vacancy you wish to apply for, and click "Déan iarratas" to apply.
Prison Officers conduct the majority of the face to face interactions with people committed to prison throughout their sentence including transportation from court; committal; safety; security; accommodation; supporting access to healthcare, psychology, in reach services, work training, education and visits by family friends and legal representatives; maintaining good order and discipline; and supporting their care, progression, desistence and rehabilitation in order that they can safely reintegrate back into their communities on completion of their sentence.
Given that prisoners spend the majority of their sentence in the presence of Prison Officers, building appropriate relationships with prisoners and actively role modelling positive behaviours in general appearance, demeanour and in daily interactions with colleagues and prisoners are fundamental aspects of the role. Prison Officers must always secure and account for every prisoner in their care, whether inside the prison or when on prisoner escorts.
The Recruit Prison Officer (RPO) is the entry level to the Service.
Prisons operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, Recruit Prison Officers will be required to work a basic 2,035 hours per year based on an average roster of 39 hours a week and will be required to work shifts including night duties, every second weekend, some public holidays and over festive seasons. Recruit Prison Officers will also be required to work Additional Hours (AH) over and above basic rostered hours up to 360 hours per annum.
Working as a Recruit Prison Officer can be complex and difficult, but it can be varied, challenging and highly rewarding. We are looking for individuals who have the capacity to relate to and engage with prisoners, act with professionalism, tolerance and humanity and the ability to role model positive social behaviour. They must also have the ability to think on their feet in dealing with situations which require security and control.
The Irish Prison Service is responsible for the provision of safe and secure custody, dignity of care and rehabilitation to people in custody for safer communities. The Irish Prison Service operates as an executive office within the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
It is headed by a Director General supported by a number of Directors. The Irish Prison Service is a key component in our country’s Criminal Justice System. It employs some 3,700 uniformed and civilian staff.
Currently, the Irish Prison Service estate (the Estate) is made up of 13 prisons; 10 closed Prisons (Arbour Hill, Castlerea, Cloverhill, Cork, Dóchas, Limerick, Midlands, Mountjoy, Portlaoise, and Wheatfield), the Training Unit (Mountjoy) and two Open Centres (Loughan House and Shelton Abbey). Typically, the Irish Prison Service manages approximately 6,000 people in custody at any one time, both male and female, aged 18 and over. Irish Prison Service Headquarters (HQ) is located in Longford. HQ is made up of five Directorates including Care and Rehabilitation, Operations, Human Resources, Finance and Estates, and Corporate Services, Governance and ICT.
As of 1st June 2026, the following salary scale applies to Recruit Prison Officers:
PPC €38,413.00 €39,7189.00 €42,789.00 (NORMAL MAX)
Entry will be at the minimum point of the scale.
Recruit Prison Officer Training
Training as a Recruit Prison Officer involves the completion of an intensive programme over a 2-year period, which is accredited by South East Technological University Waterford (SETU) Upon successful completion, the Recruit Prison Officer is awarded the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care (HCCC).
Please see the Competition Information Booklet for further details about this role.
Please note there will be an in-person Information Session held in Chapter House before the closing date. Only candidates who have fully completed and submitted an application by 10 am on Monday 21st Sept 2026, will be invited to this session. Further details will be issued to the relevant candidates.
This vacancy is closed to applications.
