Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality
Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
3:00 pm
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As I have said, the saving is mainly due to the overall decrease in prisoner numbers as opposed to any change in what is available to prisoners. We are very conscious, as is the Prison Service of the absolute importance of work and training opportunities and education. There is a strong emphasis on that. Education services are available in all the institutions and are provided in partnership with the ETBs so that the standards are good. They broadly follow an adult education approach. There are more than 120 workshops and service activities across the prison estate.