asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the continuing efforts of the visiting committees to prisons and places of detention to ensure the availability of continuous education facilities for offenders, but that due to the summer holidays, such facilities are not so available; if he will give the full reasons for this; and if he will take immediate action to ensure all year round availability of education for offenders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Education for Offenders.
4.
I am anxious that education should be available throughout the summer holiday period and every effort is being made to make this possible. However, I am sure that the Deputy appreciates that working through the summer months would involve a significant change in the conditions of teachers and that any development in this regard in the prisons and places of detention could have wide-ranging repercussions in other areas. Protracted negotiations have taken place with all the parties concerned—the teachers themselves, their union, the vocational education committee and the Departments of Education and Finance. I am hopeful that the problem will be resolved.
Does the Minister recall a similar question which was tabled previously to which the reply was almost identical? Would he be good enough to indicate to the House, apart from his concern in this area which we accept, when exactly may it be expected that the inmates of these institutions will have tuition throughout the summer months?
I should like to assure the Deputy that my concern is as deep and as sincere as his about providing educational facilities for the inmates of these institutions. We have had a number of discussions with the people involved. We thought we were on the verge of a breakthrough and that we would be able to provide this teaching service, but unfortunately that has come unstuck, not because of any fault of mine. As recently as last May we approached the Dublin Vocational Education Committee with a view to making some agreement with the teachers, who number about 62 and the majority of whom are part-time, to work for us during the months of July and August but unfortunately that was impossible because many of them had made other arrangements. Long term, the best hope seems to be that part-time teachers would give of their services for which we would gladly pay the cost.
I was about to raise that question. In that context can the Minister say whether he will be making arrangements this year far enough in advance for next summer to ensure that one way or the other the same problem will not arise? I am sure that that is the Minister's desire and I trust that it is his intention also.
I assure the Deputy that this is something each of us in this House hope for. It is our hope that arrangements can be made in time to prevent a similar problem next year.
Question No. 5.
In providing facilities for the summer holiday period would the Minister envisage making available the same low standards as are available now? These standards are deplorable. Surely the problem is not one of summer holidays but of educational facilities.
For fear that the wrong impression might be created I would like to emphasise that, as was the position when my immediate predecessor was in office, every effort is being made to improve considerably the educational facilities being provided in prisons. The emphasis is on remedial education but some offenders are prepared for group certificate, intermediate certificate and leaving certificate examinations. The range of subjects taught includes English, history, geography, mathematics, arts and crafts, woodwork and building construction, civics and home economics. It is no secret that there are a number of students who are not capable of taking these higher courses. I have found on visiting prisons that some of the prisoners are not able to read or write. Therefore, it is not fair to those involved in prison education work to accuse them of having low standards.
I am not doubting that the Minister's heart is in the right place but he is aware personally of one prisoner about whom I have been in touch with him. This prisoner is receiving only one hour's education per week although he requires facilities for educational development.
We cannot go into individual cases.
There is a specific question on the Order Paper in the name of Deputy Belton concerning that case and when the question is reached, I am sure Deputy Harte may take the matter up if he wishes.
Can the Minister——
I have called the next question. Therefore, there may not be further supplementaries on the last question.
As a non-contentious footnote——
The Deputy may not simply ignore the Chair with a wave of his hand. I am calling Question No. 5.
Can the Minister say——
At some time we must give up. We have been on one question for ten minutes. We must make progress.
——whether, regarding the teaching element——
I am not allowing further supplementaries. The next question has been called.