The prison education service consists of a partnership between the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, acting primarily through the co-ordinator of education, prison staff and a range of educational agencies from the community outside. Vocational education committees and the public library services throughout the country make the largest contribution to, and are the mainstay of, the prison education service. The service also includes as partners the Open University, the Arts Council, the National College of Art and Design – NCAD – and a number of other public and community groups.