Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the general policy of day release for prisoners attending FÁS training courses and working in community employment schemes; the number of prisoners attending these courses and schemes each year from 2000 to date in 2008; the security provided in order to release these prisoners; the associated cost of providing this security; if prisoners are paid to attend these courses and schemes; if so, the amount of same; if prisoners are training and working alongside non-criminals; the statistical analysis or research his Department engages in to assess the effectiveness of prisoners attending these courses and schemes; if these prisoners enter the work force upon release from prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32058/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Prisoners are not currently being released on day release to attend FAS training courses, although I understand that such arrangements were in place some years ago. Statistics on the numbers of day release prisoners who participated in FÁS programmes and schemes in the past are not readily available as it would require the examination of each sentenced prisoner's file for the period covered by the Deputy's question. A very limited number of prisoners do attend employment and training programmes on a day release basis run by community and voluntary agencies such as PACE. There are no security costs arising in relation to these releases and the application of any scheme arrangements to the participating prisoners is a matter for the agencies concerned.

Discussions are currently taking place between FÁS, the Probation Service, the Irish Prison Service and the Linkage Programme with a view to agreeing referral protocols for both community based offenders and for those in custody. Only those prisoners who are assessed as being ready for employment if they successfully complete the FÁS training course will be considered for any such day release arrangements.

International research has shown that employment on release can significantly reduce the risk of re-offending. The Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on the provision of vocational training to prisoners to enable them to acquire the skills, competencies and accredited qualifications necessary to secure employment on release. The participation of appropriately selected prisoners on day release on FÁS employment service programmes will help support their successful re-entry into the community by providing further vocational and personal development interventions in a community setting.