Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in the context of the statement in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report that all Prison Education Centres meet the quality assurance standards demanded by QQI, the number of scheduled classes that were cancelled in each prison over the period 2015-2025; the reasons for such cancellations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24767/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that all Prison Education Centres meet the quality assurance standards demanded by QQI.

Statistics on the number of scheduled classes that were cancelled in each prison over the period 2015-2025, would require a manual examination of a considerable amount of records, such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and resources.

However, I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the reasons for closure of classes over the past 10 years includes staff shortages, infection control (during Covid years, same as schools in the community outside of prisons) or other valid reasons.

The Irish Prison Service assure me that cancellation of education classes is always a measure of last resort.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in the context of the statement in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report that all Prison Education Centres meet the quality assurance standards demanded by QQI, the reason classes in prisons are not provided on a year round basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24768/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that all Education Centres meet the quality assurance standards demanded by QQI.

The Department of Education provides an allocation of 220 (whole time equivalent) teachers to the Irish Prison Service through the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Education in prisons is delivered with a focus on providing education which is quality assured, student centered and which facilitates lifelong learning. This partnership endeavours to meet the needs of prisoners through helping them cope with their sentence, achieve personal development and prepare for life after release.

Similar to education centres based outside of prisons, classes are not provided for each of the12 months of the year. Classes provided by the ETB allocation run for academic terms.