asked the Minister for Justice the average time spent by prisoners in St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - St. Patrick's Institution.
53.
Based on a recent check, the answer is just under five months.
54.
asked the Minister for Justice the percentage of inmates at St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin who receive assistance from the welfare officer; the percentage for whom employment is found; and the percentage who break the law again or return to prison.
As I mentioned in introducing my Estimate on 12th April, the welfare service to St. Patrick's has been substantially increased. All boys sentenced to detention there are interviewed on committal and those of them who require advice or guidance are given it.
Employment was found last year for 94 boys, representing 14 per cent of the total committed.
Figures showing how many former inmates of St. Patrick's break the law again or return to prison are not available and could be obtained only as a result of a survey extending over several years at least.
Is there a resident psychiatrist?
There is a resident temporary psychologist at the moment. He is not permanently appointed. The man there is resident full-time.
In view of the importance of knowing how many return to St. Patrick's could the Minister have statistics compiled for a period of a year?
The incidence of recidivism among former inmates could not be properly judged by finding out how many go back because most of them, if they go back, go back to Mountjoy or to some other prison. We are endeavouring to do what the Deputy suggests but in order to get a realistic picture the survey would have to be of a period of several years.
Are the Department so slow in their work that they cannot go through the names of a few hundred people except in a period of a number of years? We have had enough of this nonsense.
It is not a question of checking a few hundred names. The present prison population is in excess of 1,000. That does not mean 1,000 a year but 1,000 at any given time. The turnover is considerable and in respect of one year alone it would mean having to check several thousands of names. It is work that would take a long time, and with the pressure on my staff at the moment——
Would it take several years?
A sample of that kind would be unreliable. The Deputy will have to wait to see how they get on.
55.
asked the Minister for Justice the type of work carried out by the after-care service attached to St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin; the number of people engaged in this work; and their qualifications.
To put this matter in perspective, I would like to mention that, once an offender has served his sentence, he is free to come and go as he chooses as long as he stays within the law and he cannot be subjected to any supervision either under the name of after-care or otherwise.
When a youth who has been in St. Patrick's is being discharged, the appropriate welfare officer endeavours to find employment for him if this is necessary and tries to keep in touch with the youth for at least some time afterwards. In this work the welfare officers are assisted by a number of voluntary helpers, of whom there are about ten at present. All of these voluntary helpers, I may say, not only devote much of their spare time to the work, but have attended a special series of lectures in this field. To place this fact on record is I think of itself the best tribute I can pay them.
The Minister was asked a simple question about the number of people engaged in this work. How many are engaged in it? He did not give a figure for the number of officers he has engaged. He told us about ten other people.
We have 31 welfare officers at the moment. It may be slightly more because the figure I have given is for a month ago. They are all engaged in this work but as part of their duties they are engaged in other work as well.
56.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that a large percentage of the inmates of St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin are semiliterate and according to research carried out in the social science department of UCD could not have benefited from ordinary primary education; and what steps are being taken to remedy the educational deficiencies of these inmates.
57.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that according to a survey carried out some years ago by members of the social science department of UCD, 35 per cent of the inmates of St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin were either mentally defective or on the borderline; and what specially qualified personnel are involved in the education and rehabilitation of these inmates.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together.
The survey referred to by the Deputy was carried out with my Department's co-operation.
I dealt at some length in the recent debate on my Estimate with the various improvements which have been and are being made in St. Patrick's Institution and made particular reference to the steps being taken to deal with the special educational needs of the boys there.
58.
asked the Minister for Justice the average amount spent per day on food for each inmate of St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin.
Separate accounts are not kept in St. Patrick's for expenditure on food but the cost of food for prisoners generally was estimated for 1972-73 at £75 per head per annum.