Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the education and training courses on offer in each prison; the number of places available on each course; the courses for which there is a waiting list; the length of the waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7846/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Education in prisons is delivered by way of partnership between the Irish Prison Service and a range of educational agencies from the community. Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and Public Library Services make the largest contribution to, and are the mainstay of, the Prison Education Service.

During the academic year 2007/2008, 220 whole-time equivalent teachers are the main providers of these education programmes. This enables education to be provided in all prisons, as well as special teaching arrangements where prisoners are segregated (e.g. Portlaoise, Mountjoy, Wheatfield, Limerick, Midlands, Castlerea and Cork).

Other Agencies also contribute significantly to prison education, for example: The Open University, which now caters for close to 100 prisoners annually on degree-level distance education courses; The Arts Council, which provides writers' workshops and artists' workshops; Other third-level colleges, such as the National College of Art and Design, which is involved in Portlaoise and the Midlands Prisons; Three full-time librarians, employed by Dublin Public Libraries, work in prisons in the Dublin area.

With regard to the curriculum objectives, methods and course content are largely those of adult education. FETAC accreditation is widely used in prison education with all Prison Education Units being accepted as meeting the quality assurance standards demanded by FETAC. In broad terms, courses may be classified as follows: Basic Education, including Literacy and Numeracy; General subjects, e.g. English, History, Geography, Mathematics, Languages, Computers; Physical Education, Home Economics and Health Education; The Arts, e.g. Visual arts, Music, Drama, Creative Writing, Photography; Technology Courses, (e.g. Woodwork, Metalwork) and Horticulture; Courses that address particular problems or needs that prisoners have, e.g. Pre-Release courses, Addiction Awareness, Child care, Group Skills, and Anger Management.

A directory of prison education is published each year. The directory outlines the courses and other educational supports that are available to prisoners in each prison.

The Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on the provision of work and training activities for prisoners. Training activities are chosen to give as much employment as possible for those in prison and to give opportunities to acquire skills which will help them secure employment on their release. There are a wide range of training workshops operating within the institutions e.g. metalwork, printing, computers, braille, woodwork, construction, industrial contract cleaning, craft, horticulture, electronics etc. In addition, the work and training function covers such essential services as catering and laundry services. The environmental waste management programme and the health and safety function also operate under the aegis of the work and training service. External accreditation of certified training is available for a number of courses run within the institutions.

The Work Training Service comprises an authorised complement of over 250 posts — a major increase on the numbers engaged prior to the Agreement for Organisational Change of 158, resulting in new activities and workshops. Currently over 90 workshops are operating across the prison estate.

It is important that the Irish Prison Service trains our prisoners, where possible, to certified levels of achievement to match the qualifications required in the community for jobs. Currently there are a number of courses in place which are externally accredited (such as laundry skills by the Guild of Launderers and Cleaners, Chef courses by City and Guilds etc), and the aim is to significantly increase the number of such courses over the coming years. To this end, Prison Management is currently working with FETAC to develop an appropriate quality assurance system to underpin the certification of a range of additional courses.

The Deputy will appreciate that the numbers that can be allocated to each course or activity is dependent on a number of issues. For example, the numbers in some courses may be restricted due to the nature of the course, if specialist classrooms are needed and also due to health and safety procedures which must be adhered to. In general for most courses and activities prisoners can join at any time. Every effort is made to accommodate students in the course of their choice or another course if their choice is full. Therefore it is very seldom that there is a waiting period for participation in education or work and training.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the literacy and numeracy programmes available to prisoners in each prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7847/08]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if prisoners literacy and numeracy standards and needs are assessed on admission or at any stage in their sentence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7848/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

Prison education is delivered in prisons by way of partnership between the Irish Prison Service and a range of educational agencies from the community, particularly local Vocational Education Committees and Public Library Services. During the academic year 2007/08, the Department of Education and Science has provided an allocation of 220 whole-time teacher equivalents to the prisons.

Literacy work has been a strong element of the Prison Education curriculum since the early 1980's. The literacy curriculum concentrates on the needs of the individual and respects the adult status of the student, his/her prior knowledge, skills and life experience. It is also concerned with improving self-esteem and building confidence.

An Adult Basic Education Development Worker is employed with specific responsibility for implementing and supporting developments and initiatives in the area of literacy, numeracy, English for speakers of other languages and basic education. Because of the literacy deficit of the prisoner population, literacy work forms an element of more than just the timetabled literacy classes. All teachers are aware of the literacy needs and these are dealt with as part of the general coursework of prisoners. This is a very effective method of linking the literacy learning programme of prisoners to an area they can engage with and is widely used in adult education.

The Irish Prison Service is implementing the new assessment framework devised by the National Adult Literacy Agency; "Mapping the Learning Journey", an assessment framework that identifies learner progress, provides tangible feedback and indicates areas on which to focus. It is a useful tool for both learning and teaching.

Progress has been made linking the education and training needs of prisoners since 2003, with the literacy action plan prepared by the prison education unit of each prison becoming one vehicle for integrating the efforts of the education and training sectors in prisons. Peer tutoring, promoting family literacy and developing post-release support for prisoners who undertake literacy tuition in prison are also promoted by the Prison Education staff wherever feasible.

Each student coming into the Prison Education Centre will have an individual interview to assess his/her educational needs and interests. Those with literacy difficulties are prioritised and slotted into class almost immediately. Every effort is made to publicise literacy classes and encourage as many prisoners as possible to avail of classes.