asked the Minister for Justice what improvements have been made in the prison welfare service to place persons in employment after their release from prison; and what results these improvements have shown to date.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Rehabilitation of Prisoners.
28.
Within the last year the number of welfare officers assigned to prisons and other places of detention has been increased from two to eight. I expect that further appointments will be made later.
Seeking employment for prisoners on their release is one aspect of the welfare service's work for offenders. While their success cannot be measured simply in terms of numbers placed in employment, I may say that welfare officers were instrumental in obtaining employment for 237 offenders in the 12 months ending 31st March, 1972, which is about 50 per cent higher than had been previously achieved.
It is only right to say, of course, that the success that the welfare officers have had could not have been achieved without the co-operation of the employers concerned.
29.
asked the Minister for Justice if prisoners are being prepared to take their places as ordinary members of society; if so, how; and what results are available to date.
It would be impossible within the limits of a reply to a Parliamentary Question to deal with such a complex matter and I can only refer the Deputy to the substantial amount of detail which I gave to the House within the past two weeks in the debate on my Estimate. The wide-ranging changes which I outlined on that occasion are all designed directly or indirectly to improve the prospects of rehabilitation of those prisoners who are willing either on their own initiative or on persuasion and encouragement to co-operate in the process.