asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that individuals leaving St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin, be allowed to sign on for some form of employment-related assistance for a period prior to or during their release, in order to ensure that they are in possession of some funds during the weeks after their release, thus reducing drastically the likelihood of an early return to crime.
Written Answers. - Assistance for Prisoners.
108.
I presume the Deputy has in mind unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance. In the normal course payment of such benefit or assistance can be made within a short period after the date of claim provided the person concerned is available for work and satisfies the other conditions of entitlement. Persons cannot, however, be available for employment while undergoing imprisonment and are in fact statutorily disqualified for receiving payment during that period.
My Department have had discussions in the past with organisations concerned with the welfare of ex-prisoners and has indicated its willingness to make special arrangements to help such persons as far as possible with their claims for social welfare benefits. Officers of my Department will be available to discuss these matters further with these organisations at any time.
109.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the steps that have been taken under the Social Welfare Regulations to ensure that persons discharged from prisons and places of detention are self-sufficient for a period of time to allow them to regain a foothold in society as recommended by the Visiting Committee of St. Patrick's Institution.
As I stated in reply to a previous question on this matter my Department has had discussions in the past with organisations concerned with the welfare of ex-prisoners including representatives of the Visiting Committee of St. Patrick's Institution. Following these discussions my Department made certain proposals and indicated its willingness to make special arrangements as far as possible to help ex-prisoners with their claims for social welfare benefits.