Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 1990

Vol. 396 No. 3

Written Answers. - Educational Facilities for Prisoners.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

43 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice if there are any facilities available to Irish prisoners to enable them to avail of Open University courses, or any other form of distance learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

61 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice the number of teachers employed on (a) a full-time and (b) part-time basis by the Irish prison service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Toddy O'Sullivan

Question:

80 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the educational facilities available for prisoners in each Irish prison at the end of 1989; the plans he has to improve those facilities in 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 43, 61 and 80 together.

The major teaching input to prisons and places of detention is made by eight vocational education committees who provide 65 whole-time teachers and 68 regular part-time teachers in the 12 institutions concerned.

There is a further substantial educational input from the public library services, particularly from Dublin public libraries who provide a senior librarian and a librarian full time. The Arts' Council run writers' and artists' workshops. The Open University provides degree-level courses in nearly all prisons and places of detention and, in recent times, there has also been increased involvement in particular institutions by other third-level institutions, notably the National College of Art and Design, Thomond College, Cork Regional Technical College and University College, Dublin. A professional co-ordinator of education in my Department has overall responsibility for the development of all this educational activity.

In most places of custody there are modern purpose-built education units designed to enable a wide range of educational activity to take place. In some older prisons, notably Mountjoy, it has been necessary to adapt available accommodation. Where facilities allow, as they do in most places, a very broad and versatile programme of education is made available. Given that a sizeable minority of those in prison have substantial basic education needs, this is given a high priority. Creative activities, such as art, music, writing and drama, have worked very well in enabling prisoners to discover constructive outlets for their talents and this sector has been greatly extended in recent times. Physical education, examination courses, craft subjects, technology, home economics and social education all have major roles. The increase in teacher allocation this year, which is the equivalent of 17 extra full-time teachers, will enable the range of educational provision to be significantly increased in a number of places. Recruitment of additional teachers by the VECs concerned, in consultation with my co-ordinator, is well under way.

With regard to Open University provision, this is now the sixth year in which prisoners in this jurisdiction have followed Open University courses, mainly in the facilities of social science, arts and technology. This year some 40 prisoners are studying with the Open University, many of them men and women whose formal education had been limited but who developed themselves through the VEC provision in the prisons. To date six prisoners have completed their full degrees while in prison, others have continued their Open University studies after release and still others have transferred, upon release, to full-time conventional universities. I am very satisfied with the quality of the distance education provided and in particular wish to acknowledge all the assistance given by the Northern Ireland Regional Office of the Open University.

About 50 per cent of the 2,000 or so in custody at any time in prisons and places of detention participate voluntarily in education. In this jurisdiction, participation in education is credited equally with work towards payment of gratuity and remission of sentence.