Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost to the Exchequer of providing Open University courses for prisoners broken down between Irish nationals and non-Irish nationals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41851/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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To date in this year, 95 prisoners have undertaken courses through the Open University at a cost of €88,561.12. Of these, 26 were non-Irish nationals. I would like to clarify that, in common with all prisoner services provided by the Irish Prison Service, access to Open University courses is not differentiated on the basis of nationality. There is a uniform application procedure with associated guidelines and prisoners must demonstrate the proven academic ability required to complete a third level course of study.