Laois college plays key role in training new graduate prison officers

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan TD has welcomed the graduation of 123 Recruit Prison Officers at the Print Works, Dublin Castle.

The new officers have now completed their Higher Certificate of Arts in Custodial Care (HCCC), developed and delivered jointly by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) and South East Technological University (SETU). The graduates spent the first 12 weeks of their training at the IPS College in Portlaoise.

The Department of Justice said the graduating class forms part of the Service’s latest recruitment drive. They have already been placed in prisons throughout the State, including the Operational Support Group and the Prison Service Escort Corp.

The graduation ceremony marked the formal recognition of the new officers’ academic achievement. Minister O’Callaghan said he was honoured to congratulate the new prison officers on their graduation.

"I commend them for their hard work and dedication over the course of their training, which will equip them with the knowledge and skills to carry out their work in a professional and meaningful way.

“These graduates are the backbone - and the future - of our prison system, and they will have a profound influence on how those in their custodial care can begin to prepare for a crime-free life and a fresh start when they leave.

“Prison officers make our communities safer, not just through providing secure custody, but also by providing the care and rehabilitation that those in custody need to be able to make the right choices when they are released, and I wish them all the best in what I’m sure will be a long and rewarding career in the Irish Prison Service,” he said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Caron McCaffrey also congratulated the graduates.

“Prison Officers work in a challenging environment where the needs of those in custody are many and the problems are complex.

“The conferring of the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care upon these officers today equips them with the skills and understanding required to work in a Prison and I commend them for their commitment to their studies and helping us to manage a prison service which is built on the respect for human dignity,” she said.

President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell emphasised the need to provide a high standard of training and education to support prison officers.

“In light of this, the Irish Prison Service and SETU have created a collaborative work-based programme that develops the reflective, theoretical and practical skills of the Recruit Prison Officer.

“With over 900 Recruit Prison Officers having successfully completed the programme since 2017, including the 123 graduates who were awarded a Higher Certificate of Arts in Custodial Care at Dublin Castle this evening, SETU’s partnership with the Irish Prison Service is a prime example of our connectivity with our region, firmly aligned with our strategic goals in the provision of educational experiences that are student centred and responsive to learner needs.

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“I extend my sincere congratulations to this year’s graduates on their academic achievements. This milestone is a testament to the hard work you have invested in earning your qualification,” said Ms Campbell. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The Higher Certificate in Custodial Care is a two-year part-time programme designed to develop the professional competencies of Prison Service staff in working with prisoners. The HCCC is intended to facilitate a greater understanding of how officers can confront challenges through the exploration of different subjects including, Resilience, Mental Health, Social Psychology and Human Rights.

After initial training RPOs are assigned to a prison, with assignments based on the security and operational needs of each individual prison.

The most recent RPO recruitment campaign was launched in August 2024 and closed in October 2024 and 1,509 applications were received for this campaign. A further recruitment campaign will launch later this year.

An additional €18.5m was provided to the IPS in 2025 specifically for staffing to provide for increased pay roll costs, recruitment, and 65,000 additional hours to address current demands and maximise service delivery

Prison Officer training is accredited by South East Technological University (SETU) as the Higher Certificate of Arts in Custodial Care and reflects Level 6 of the NQAI framework.