Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners in each of the State's prisons availing of education and training courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9061/08]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners undertaking education and training programmes other than literacy programmes at each of the State's prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9060/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 183 together.

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.

The Department of Education and Science provided an allocation of 220 whole-time teacher equivalents to the prisons through the VECs in the academic year 2007/08. This has enabled 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

The Arts Council

Other third-level colleges, such as the National College of Art and Design

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.

Participation in education generally varies with factors such as access, facilities, turnover of population and segregation. During 2006 approximately 50% of all prisoners were involved in some education. 25% of the total prison population was intensively involved, i.e. for more than 10 hours per week of classes. This level of involvement in education whilst in prison is very high by international standards.

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. Currently, there are over 90 workshops operating, actively catering for in excess of 800 prisoners each day.