Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 600: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 1 December 2011, the number and variety of training or rehabilitation courses available at each of the prisons listed; the number of applicants; the number of participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40791/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have been informed by the Irish Prison Service that it is not possible to provide the information in the format requested as this would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort which could not be justified where there are other significant demands on resources. However, as explained previously, I can confirm that the Irish Prison Service provides a range of rehabilitative programmes which are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible to use these services.

Educational services are also available at all institutions and are provided in partnership with a range of educational agencies including notably the Vocational Education Committees and Public Library Services. The Department of Education and Skills provides an allocation of 220 whole-time teacher equivalents, which has remained unaltered since 2007. Literacy, numeracy and general basic education provision is the priority and broad programmes of education are made available which generally follow an adult education approach. An average of 37.5% of the prison population attended classes in 2011, based on figures to the end of November.

A significant expansion and development of vocational training programmes has taken place in recent years with over 100 workshops now in place in our prisons capable of catering for in excess of 800 prisoners each day. There was a notable increase in the number of prisoners who participated in accredited vocational training courses in 2010, the latest year for which figures are available, when 874 prisoners attended such courses. The Deputy can be assured that the Irish Prison Service continues to seek to improve the services available to prisoners insofar as resources allow. Projects currently underway include expansion of facilities in the Dóchas Centre and the Midlands prison. Particular emphasis is also being placed on maximising attendance in existing facilities.