Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 604: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the education, arts and in particular drama programmes currently in place in Mountjoy and other prisons for rehabilitation and re-integration purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1523/11]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on access to educational services and on the provision of work and training activities for prisoners. Educational services are available in Mountjoy and all other prisons and are provided in partnership with a range of educational agencies in the community, notably the VECs. Provision of literacy, numeracy and general basic education is a priority and broad programmes of education are made available which generally follow an adult education approach.

Education programmes are adapted to take account of the diversity of the prisoner population and the complex nature of prison life, including segregation requirements and high levels of prisoner turnover. Educational courses and curricula, which are based on individuals participating in one or more subject areas for an academic year and sitting terminal examinations, are only appropriate for a small number of prisoners. Junior and Leaving Certificate courses are available but increasing numbers of prisoners require a more flexible curriculum which has multiple entry and exit points that take account of prior educational attainment. FETAC accreditation is therefore widely used with assessment by portfolio compilation. All prison Education Units meet the quality assurance standards demanded by FETAC.

The education programmes provided in prisons can be broadly categorised as follows:

Basic Education, including literacy, numeracy, English as a second language and communications;

Creative Arts, notably music, sound recording and production, drama, art, craft, stone work, creative writing, film production and photography.

Technology, including woodwork, woodcarving, metalwork, computer-aided design, information technology and horticulture;

General Subjects, incorporating history, languages, geography, home economics and English literature;

Life Skills, comprising notably personal development, interpersonal skills, anger management, parenting, child care, addiction studies, driver theory and food hygiene.

Healthy Living, notably physical education, sports, fitness and recreational activities, health education, diet and nutrition.