Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

143. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the schemes available to assist former offenders to access the labour force or training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39865/13]

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

The Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on the provision of vocational training and educational activities for prisoners. Training activities are chosen to give as much employment as possible in prison and to provide opportunities to acquire skills which assist in accessing employment on release.

The Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders (IASIO) which is funded by my Department through the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service is the main provider of support for employability and placement programmes. IASIO personnel interact with all national services to maximise the opportunities for prisoners on release from prison. They also interact with any local services that similarly can support the reintegration of prisoners.

Since its inception in 2000, the Linkage Programme has been providing a professional guidance and placement service in partnership with the Probation Service to persons on probation, prisoners and ex-prisoners. The GATE Service has been operating in Mountjoy, Dóchas, St Patrick's Institution, the Training Unit, Midlands and Portlaoise prisons since 2007. The service was introduced to Wheatfield Prison in 2011. Five GATE Service Training and Employment Officers work on a full-time basis in the prisons concerned and provide a training, education and employment placement service.

The Resettlement Service, introduced in 2009, is a joint initiative between IASIO and the Irish Prison Service which offers 'through-the-gate' resettlement support to prisoners. This service offers release and resettlement planning and stabilisation support through one-to-one meetings with the offender and inter-agency collaboration on behalf of the offender. There are currently three IASIO Resettlement Workers who provide a service to Cork Prison, Castlerea Prison, the Training Unit and Loughan House.

In addition, the Probation Service provides funding to Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to provide a range of services to offenders to support the Probation Service in addressing offender behaviour and facilitating the reintegration of offenders into their community.