Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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121. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on education and training as well as employment provisions in Irish prisons; and his views on how these measures can work to prevent recidivism. [33089/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Prison Service advises me that work, training and education is available in all prisons.

Programmes of education are provided in prisons in partnership with the Education and Training Boards. Supports and services provided include basic literacy and numeracy education provision, state exams and third level qualifications.

Work and training in prisons is provided by Work and Training Officers, and provides a range of purposeful activities in areas such as catering, laundry, industrial cleaning and industrial skills. The Irish Prison Service has expanded the number of accredited courses and opportunities available in this area to meet contemporary skill requirements for employment in the community.

In November 2024, the Department of Justice launched ‘Building Pathways Together: Criminal Justice Reintegration Through Employment Strategy 2025-2027’. This strategy seeks to provide effective interventions to ensure people have the appropriate supports and opportunities available to them. It underscores a renewed cross-sectoral commitment to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with criminal convictions. Work has commenced on the implementation phase of the strategy in 2025 and the first meetings of the Criminal Justice Employment Advisory Committee and the Criminal Justice Employer’s Network have taken place in June.

The Programme for Government includes continued implementation of the Prison Education Taskforce which was established in May 2023. The taskforce is co-chaired by Ministers from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. It’s membership includes nominees from the Irish Prison Service, SOLAS, the National Apprenticeship Office, Education and Training Boards Ireland, the Probation Service and people with lived experience. The aim of the taskforce is to ensure close alignment and integration of education, work and training opportunities for people involved in the criminal justice system as well as their families. The next taskforce meeting is taking place on 25 June.

Taken together, these important initiatives represent a coherent approach to addressing offending behaviour by providing integrated work, training and education opportunities to support desistance.