Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will clarify whether the Irish Prison Service within its capital allocation budget for development of key prison related IT projects, will develop projects to improve training facilities for prisoners or if they are solely for the running of the prison system. [34997/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has assigned part of its 2012 capital allocation for the development of a number of key systems designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of the prisoner population and to enhance facilities for prisoners.

The Irish Prison Service continues to develop IT facilities in the prison schools which will enhance prisoner educational opportunities. An in-cell education pilot project to allow prisoners continue their classroom learning is also being introduced in St Patrick's Institution and Wheatfield prison.

In addition, a number of other IT projects are being rolled out including:

- a new prisoner records system;

- an extended prisoner medical system;

- a new prisoner cash and gratuity system;

- an extended integrated sentence management system;

- extended video conferencing to reduce the need for prisoners to attend

court for short duration appearances;

- an extended visitor system; and

- online booking of prison visits.