The Prison Officers Association (POA) said tonight it was bitterly disappointed that the Government had given Mr McDowell the go-ahead to put two further prisons outside the remit of the Prison Service.
Mr John Clinton, General Secretary of the POA described the decision as incredible. "The Prison Officers' Association has an offer on the table, which can save the Government €30 million and it has been ignored," he said.
"It is now clear that the only agenda at all times was to close prisons and let Irish society take the ultimate rap.
"I think that it is also important to note that over 650 prisoners are unlawfully at large and nothing is being done about it.
"When one considers the POA's € million savings offer and the fact that 650 prisoners should be in custody, its difficult to understand what this present Minister is doing."
The Association claimed that it was now clear that closure and privatisation was always top of the agenda and that prison officers' overtime was merely a smokescreen.
"Neither the Minister or the Prison Service ever explained how the reduction of one million hours worked, as part of their proposal would be dealt with, without affecting service delivery and staff safety," they added.
Mr Clinton said that the Minister's plans have been rejected by 99.4 per cent of allprison officers.
The Minister said tonight the POA has until the middle of December to negotiate any pay deal.
If a deal is not reached he will go ahead with the dramatic changes to the prison system in order to cut the overtime bill.