Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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594. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the degree to which first time offenders in all categories of crime are being provided with an opportunity for rehabilitation and education with a view to equipping them with lifestyles likely to entice them away from a life of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1867/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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595. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of repeat offenders serving prison sentences who have had access to education and rehabilitation courses in each of the past five years and to date in 2018; the number of applications to such courses; the number of refused applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1868/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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596. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of first time offenders serving prison sentences who have had access to education and rehabilitation courses in each of the past five years and to date in 2018; the number of applications to such courses; the number of refused applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1869/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 to 596, inclusive, together.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes can offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead law abiding lives on release.  These programmes are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible and have access to use the services, both first time and repeat offenders.  The intention of this focussed approach is to assist persons committed to custody in living law-abiding and purposeful lives on their release to the community.

The Department of Education and Skills provides an allocation of 220 whole time teacher equivalents to the Prison Service through the Education and Training Boards . Education in prisons is delivered in partnership between the Education and Training Boards and the Irish Prison Service with a focus on providing education which is quality assured, prisoners centred and which facilitates lifelong learning. The partnership endeavours to meet the needs of prisoners through helping them cope with their sentence, achieve personal development and prepare for life after release. A broad and flexible curriculum is provided which ranges from basic literacy classes and peer led tutoring to Open University. There is an increasing focus on Quality and Qualification Ireland "QQI" accreditation as the modular structure best meets the needs of students in prison.  On some occasions, prisoners may have to wait for a place to become available on an educational programme. A small number of refusals are issued each year for Open University where the applicants did not meet the Open University's eligibility criteria, however in all cases they were directed to continue to engage with the Education Centre and were encouraged in the direction of other more suitable rehabilitative programmes.