Prison Officers who work at jails and Portlaoise and other jails will have new control and restraint equipment under a framework being established for the supply delivery of the Irish Prison Service (IPS).

The IPS is inviting companies to bid for the contracts, which expects should not cost more than €3 million, for an extensive range of equipment that ranges from ballistic vests capable of withstanding multiple hits, to batons and helmets.

The service explains why it wants to buy the equipment.

"Due to the nature of the security requirements required within a prison environment, during transport and custodial, IPS requires control & restraint equipment and related accessories," it says.

The list includes the following:

Protective overalls

Riot helmets

Full Body Armour

Anti-Spit Mask

Ballistic Vests

Safety Boots

Gloves

Shields

Baton

Hook & Loop Straps/Limb Straps

The IPS has outlined to potential bidders what specifications the various types of equipment should meet.

It says the ballistic vest should be covert, able to be worn discreetly under uniform or clothing and offer protection to the front, side and back of the vest.

It should be constructed with a material of high durability and protection, such as Kevlar or an equivalent. The IPS says the vest should be "capable of withstanding multiple hits without failure".

The vest should, says the IPS, reduce blunt force trauma to a level that does not cause serious injury or lethal injury to the wearer.

Three types of shield are required including a long model for riots. The IPS says this must be robust to protect the user’s full body from thrown items, blows, and other physical attacks.

The design of the body armour should cover the torso, arms, legs. The design should incorporate ergonomic features for user comfort and mobility.

Three types of batons are sought including an impact release model.

The IPS says it wants to have the new four year framework in place by late quarter three, 2023.

The IPS says it is envisaged that the maximum spend under this framework agreement will not exceed €3,000,000 excluding VAT. The service emphasises, however, that this figure is provided for indicative purposes only as there is no guaranteed expenditure under the framework agreement.

The likely value of contracts to be awarded under the framework will be in the region of €5,000 to €50,000.

Assaults on prison officers have jumped by 46% between 2021 and 2022, according to Service figures.

Figures on the IPS website say that there were 13 assaults on staff in the Midlands Prison but none in Portlaoise Prison in 2021. There were 57 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in the Midlands in 2021 but zero in Portlaoise Prison.

The same report has figures on Restraint Interventions, - instances where an Officer may have received an injury during the course of their duties i.e. restraining a non-compliant prisoner. It says there were eight such instances in the Midlands Prison in 2021 but none in the neighbouring Portlaoise Prison.