asked the Minister for Justice the after-care provided by the State for prisoners on their release in relation to (a) work and (b) accommodation; and the percentage who obtain employment.
Written Answers. - Released Prisoner After-Care.
120.
After-care cannot be imposed on persons discharged from custody on termination of their sentences. After-care is, however, available, on a voluntary basis, to any prisoner who requests it and is provided by the welfare service of my Department. After-care aims at resettlement of the offender within the community; advice and help in seeking employment and accommodation form a part of this total concept. Hostels established by community organisations which provide accommodation for released prisoners are assisted financially by my Department in a substantial way. In practice very few prisoners opt for after-care but the numbers seeking it are on the increase.
I am not too clear as to the information the Deputy seeks in the second part of the question. Some prisoners are self-employed, others are taken back by their former employers and jobs are obtained for some by the welfare service. In 1975 a total of 218 prisoners were placed in employment by the welfare service.