Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of prisoners attending prison education and training centres at present and during each of the past five years; the strategy to ensure greater take-up of such provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52637/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Prisoner care and rehabilitation is a core aim of the Irish Prison Service. The organisation prioritises a balanced approach to its care and custody functions, and seeks to manage sentences in a way that encourages and supports prisoners in their efforts to live law abiding and purposeful lives on release.

Education in prisons is delivered in partnership with the Education Training Boards (ETBs). A broad and flexible curriculum is provided from basic literacy through to state examinations and Open University. All prisoners are encouraged to attend education. Those who attend, engage in an education interview with the Head or Deputy Head Teacher where they discuss and agree their individual student timetable. Numbers who can attend the education unit in each prison is determined by factors such as education subject, size of the classroom and the number of prisoners who are interested in that subject.

Work training is also available in all prisons, with all prisoners encouraged to engage in some work training activity which provides constructive routine during time spent in custody. A wide range of training workshops operate within the institutions e.g. printing, hairdressing, braille, woodwork, metalwork, construction, industrial cleaning, crafts, horticulture catering and laundry. The work training function is staffed by Irish Prison Service Work Training Officers. Workshop sizes and numbers of prisoners who can attend workshops may be determined by factors such as type of workshop, capacity of workshop and the number of prisoners who are interested in and assessed as suitable for participation in that workshop.

The Irish Prison Service has also expanded the number of accredited courses and opportunities available to prisoners in the area of work-training. Enhanced partnership arrangements with accrediting bodies such as City and Guilds and the Guild of Cleaners and Launderers have enabled the Irish Prison Service to extend the number of available courses and activities with certification.

A Prison Education Taskforce to improve education and upskilling across the criminal justice system, starting with prison education was established in May 2023.

The Taskforce is jointly chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills and the Minister of State with responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice.

The Taskforce is implementing innovative approaches in prison education including the piloting of qualifications in retrofitting and catering, implementation of further opportunities in relation to traineeships including scoping potential for apprenticeships. Work of the Taskforce complements the goals of the Building Pathways Together employment strategy for those in contact with the Criminal Justice System.

The following table outlines the percentage of prisoners attending education and the numbers and percentages of prisoners attending work training in Quarter 1 2025 and the previous five years. Owing to limitations in current IT systems, only the percentage of prisoners attending education and blended learning opportunities is available.