Minister for Justice France Fitzgerald has announced a recruitment drive for an additional 360 prison officers is now underway.

The Irish Prison Service will take on 120 new officers per year for the next three years.

The first entrants into the Irish Prison Service College will be starting in early 2017.

It marks the first time since 2008 that the Service has taken on new staff.

Announcing the jobs, Fitzgerald called on members of minority and new communities applying.

She said:

"The new staff will ensure that the Irish Prison Service is renewed and has the capacity to continue to provide safe, secure custody and rehabilitation in all prisons throughout the country.

"Working as a Prison Officer can be complex and difficult but can also be varied, challenging and highly rewarding.

"While the duty of prison staff is to enhance public safety by holding securely those committed by the courts their role must be deeper than just a custodial function.

"Prison staff must have the capacity to relate to and engage with prisoners, act with professionalism and integrity, have tolerance and humanity and the ability to role model positive social behaviour. It is an important job and prison staff play a special role on behalf of society."

The role is an entry-level position with salary ranging from €22,677 (PPC) to €26,886. A different scale may apply if the applicant has already worked in the public service.

Officers will be required to work an average roster of 39 hours a week, with shifts including night duties, every second weekend, occasional public holidays and some festive seasons.

Candidates must be at least 18 years old and a number of educational requirements apply.

Applications should be submitted to publicjobs.ie.

The closing date is 3pm on Thursday July 28th.