To ask the Minister of Justice (i) how she is supporting personnel within the Northern Ireland Prison Service if they are unable to work due to childcare or other issues related to COVID-19; and (ii) whether they are entitled to contractual sick pay.

As members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, prison officers are subject to the NICS Handbook and the COVID-19 related guidance currently in place.

There are a range of measures currently in place to support staff who may have difficulty in finding suitable alternative childcare arrangements during the pandemic. For example they can apply for annual leave, paid special leave and/or unpaid leave or a change to their working pattern. This may include a temporary arrangement where they may be facilitated with the opportunity to make a change to their current shift pattern. It should also be noted that as essential workers, prison staff with school age children are still able to send them to school. Regarding pre-school children childminders and nurseries are still open.

The NICS Handbook sets out the rules on entitlement to sick pay and the rates.