Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Prison Service: Recruitment and Retention

Debate contribution by Dr Steve Aiken OBE on 14 April 2026.

MLA: Dr Steve Aiken OBE
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 14 April 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Northern Ireland Prison Service: Recruitment and Retention
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5482275

Text

I thank the Minister for her reply. The Minister will be aware that there is a significant issue in the Prison Service with staff on long-term sickness absence and how they were dealt with in the past. Will the Minister update us on how approaches to dealing with long-term sick absences in the Prison Service are being dealt with now? Have we turned a corner on that issue, and are we beginning to treat our staff who are on long-term sickness absence better and with much better treatment?

88 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 3395/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

This is the same MLA’s follow-up within the exchange on their own question. It is analysed together with that question and is not counted separately, so one question is never counted twice.

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