Press release

Minister Jim O’Callaghan welcomes new graduates at Recruit Prison Officer ceremony in Croke Park

• From: Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
• Published on: 2 April 2026

• Last updated on: 2 April 2026

• 159 Recruit Prison Officers assigned throughout the Prison Estate

• Over 500 Recruit Prison Officers in the pipeline with the 2026 recruitment campaign to take place later this year
  Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has today welcomed the graduation of 159 Recruit Prison Officers (RPO) at a ceremony in the Hogan Suite in Croke Park.

The new officers have now completed their Higher Certificate of Arts in Custodial Care (HCCC), developed and delivered jointly by the Irish Prison Service and South East Technological University (SETU).

The new officers have already been placed in prisons throughout the prison estate.

Today’s graduation ceremony marks the formal recognition of the new officers’ academic achievement.

Minister O’Callaghan said:

“It is a privilege to congratulate these graduates today. Their preparation has been thorough, and they now have the knowledge needed to manage this complex role effectively. I want to thank them for their public service and their families for their support.

“Prison Officers bring strength and compassion to a job that often goes unseen, yet it is crucial for keeping our communities safe. As mentors, they will help offenders in their care to rebuild their futures and to find a better path forward. We are fully committed to supporting them with the resources needed to carry out this challenging duty with dignity."

The Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Caron McCaffrey said:

“Today’s graduation is a proud moment for our Service and for the communities we serve. The Higher Certificate in Custodial Care represents far more than academic achievement — it reflects the resilience, empathy and professionalism that define modern prison work.

“Our new officers have balanced study, family life and the demands of a complex environment, and they have done so with integrity and determination. As they take up duty across the estate, they bring with them diverse skills, strong values and a commitment to supporting safety, dignity and rehabilitation in our prisons. I am confident that each of them will make a meaningful contribution to the people in our care, to their colleagues, and to the wider society we work to protect.”

Recognising the crucial role played by prison officers in delivering an important public service , Pro-Chancellor and Chair of SETU’s Governing Body, Professor Patrick Prendergast emphasised the need to provide a high standard of training and education to support them.

Prof. Patrick Prendergast said:

“It is vital that we continue to meet the evolving needs of this essential public service. The Higher Certificate in Custodial Care continues to grow in strength and impact each year, reflecting the strong collaboration between the Irish Prison Service and SETU.

“Since its introduction in 2017, more than 1,000 recruit prison officers have completed the programme, with a further 159 being conferred this evening. These figures reflect both the scale of the programme and the value placed on education, professionalism and continuous development within custodial care.

“Most importantly, today is about the graduates themselves. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to this year’s cohort. You should take great pride in what you have achieved and in the important contribution you will go on to make throughout your careers.”

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.

ENDS…///

Notes to Editor

The most recent RPO recruitment campaign was launched in July 2025, 1,772 applications were received for this campaign.

As of 3 March 2026, 512 names have been received from Public Jobs following 3 batches of interviews.

In 2025, a total of 304 Recruit Prison Officers were recruited.

Funding provided to the Irish Prison Service in 2026 will allow for the recruitment of up to 100 additional Prison Officers and up to 50 additional staff along with a 19% increase in funding to allow for 210,000 additional staff hours in our prisons.

The 2026 Recruit Prison Officer recruitment campaign is provisionally scheduled to open, in conjunction with Public Jobs, in September this year.

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.

South East Technological University (SETU) is a multi-campus university in the south east of Ireland. With a vision to transform the south east into a thriving region, SETU provides a diverse range of third-level courses to students globally, fostering skills, and knowledge for exciting careers.