John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the €58 million provided in the national development plan for the connect project in the probation and prison area; the details of funding spent to date; the progress made; if the programme is on schedule; if it is being favourably viewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23943/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The connect project was launched in 2000 as a part of the prison service training and development programme, amounting to €58 million under the national development plan. The funding involved is provided annually by the Exchequer as part of the prisons Vote. There is no separate budget for this programme. Expenditure since 2000 has been on funding salary and incidental costs incurred in providing vocational training in the prisons, as well as meeting the cost of some capital works and materials used in the manufacture of products in prison workshops for the Special Olympics in 2003.

The connect projects at Mountjoy Prison, the Dóchas Centre and the training unit were established with the support of the national training and development institute, NTDI, and are now capable of independent operation. A process of internal review during 2002 prompted a refocusing of the project, prior to its roll-out to further institutions. In particular, the review identified the need for new management structures in order to better support the project's sentence management processes in the delivering institutions. Following this internal review, roll-out of the project commenced at Limerick Prison but was subsequently put on hold against the background of the current industrial relations and attendant financial difficulties.

The connect project has now resumed roll-out at Limerick Prison with renewed NTDI support and the projects at Mountjoy Prison, the Dóchas Centre and the training unit, which have been affected by the current industrial relations and financial restrictions, will resume full operation when there is a successful outcome to the industrial relations process.