Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 2

Written Answers. - Prison Rehabilitation Programmes.

Ivor Callely

Question:

80 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the number and type of rehabilitation programmes which are provided in the prison service; the success rate of these rehabilitation programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

By common consent prisons have a number of purposes which include deterrence, protection of the public and rehabilitation. There is a range of services provided for prisoners including medical, psychiatric, psychological, welfare, education and work/training all of which have a rehabilitative content. These programmes are being constantly adapted and developed to meet changing needs.

It is virtually impossible to measure the impact of these multi-purpose programmes on the rehabilitation of offenders generally — much depends on the aptitudes and attitudes of the individual offenders themselves.

There is no doubt that the range of programmes made available in the prisons helps prisoners in their own self-development and undoubtedly affects the quality of their lives after leaving prison. Any improvements that can be made in the attitudes, abilities and competence of offenders must count as rehabilitative successes but as I've said, there is no easy way in which successes in those terms can be measured.