Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the allocations within the education subhead of the prisons' Vote to each of the following educational areas in 2008 and 2011: the education unit in each prison; each public library service involved in prisons; the Open University; the National College of Art and Design; the alternative to violence project; Arts Council projects in prisons; post-release educational support for prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36796/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.

The figures for 2011 are provisional allocations. Final outturn figures will be available in January 2012.

The provision of a part-time professional librarian service commenced in Castlerea in 2009 and in Limerick in 2010. The costs in relation to libraries arise from the recoupment to local public library services of the salaries of professional librarians and book purchases. Educational services are provided in partnership with a range of educational agencies in the community, notably the Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The Department of Education and Skills provide an allocation of whole-time teacher equivalents to the prisons through the VECs (220 in the academic year 2011/12).

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of workshop and work-training instructor posts that are vacant in each prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36797/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the number of workshop and work training posts were agreed in 2005 as part of the Proposal for Organisational Change in the Irish Prison Service. Based on that Agreement, there are a total of 258 posts of which 175.5 are currently filled. A number of posts are also filled on a temporary or acting up basis. Details are set out in the tables.

The Deputy will be aware that the moratorium on public service recruitment imposed new ceilings on total public service staff numbers which are to be achieved through the implementation of an Employment Control Framework (ECF). In that regard, the Irish Prison Service in partnership with the Prison Officers' Association, is currently conducting a task review under the terms of the Public Service Agreement 2010 - 2014 to agree, inter alia, new staffing levels.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of hours the library in each prison is scheduled to open each week; the percentage of scheduled opening times that these libraries were actually open from January to October 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36798/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Library facilities are available in all prisons. The majority are managed by qualified staff from the Local Authority Library Services whose salary costs are refunded by the Irish Prison Service. Prison staff assist the librarians and operate library services in some prisons. The information requested is set out in the table in relation to ten prisons.

The figures for Dublin prisons are to the end of September 2011. The figures up to the end of October 2011 will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as they are available. Comparable data is not available in relation to the other prisons as these operate varying access arrangements structured to reflect demand, including scheduled and ad-hoc opening hours.

While every effort is made to maintain reasonable access to library facilities in keeping with demand, opening hours were restricted in some prisons over this period mainly due to the need to redeploy staff to operational and security functions. Where necessary, this is done on a rotational basis to help minimise disruption.

The Inspector of Prisons recommended in his 2010 Annual Report that the Irish Prison Service commission an independent audit of prison education services. This audit is currently under way and includes prison library services. When the review is completed, the findings in relation to libraries will be assessed to develop a template for future library provision.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to appoint persons with appropriate professional competence in the respective areas to the vacant posts of co-ordinator of work and training, and co-ordinator of education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36799/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the filling of vacancies in the Irish Prison Service, in common with the rest of the public service, is governed by the moratorium on public service recruitment. I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that a Governor attached to the Regimes Directorate within Prison Service Headquarters is responsible for Work and Training while there are no plans at this time to appoint a Co-ordinator of Education.