PUBLIC Safety Minister David Burch has moved to address concerns that the island's prison service is under-funded.

The Minister met with Prison Officers Association chiefs after they expressed fears that the service was struggling to cope because of a lack of resources. Last month POA president Craig Clarke publicly challenged Government to "put its money where its mouth is" by backing up calls for rehabilitation with hard cash.

"When the Premier went to Westgate and had a Cabinet meeting, he said he wanted these people to return to society without being ostracised," Mr. Clarke said.

"But if they are going to be accepted we must rehabilitate ? that means resources need to be given. We have to give the Department of Corrections the tools they need."

Mr. Clarke complained there was a continual shortage of prison officers and not enough programmes to educate Westgate inmates or keep them occupied.

He also lamented the fact that there was only one psychologist for about 300 inmates.

Yesterday Mr. Clarke confirmed that he has since met with Sen. Burch who reassured him that concerns will be addressed. He declined to go into detail about the meeting as he is yet to inform POA members about it. He did however describe it as "very positive".