Vol. 520 No. 3
49 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the supports and procedures in place in respective parts of the State to assist offenders under the age of 21 years to integrate back into society after serving a custodial sentence; the plans, if any, he has to further assist and support such integration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15409/00]
Particular emphasis is placed on the rehabilitation of young offenders while in custody and, accordingly, a wide range of services are made available such as an education service, vocational training, library service, sports-physical education, psychology service, probation and welfare service, medical services, addiction counselling and chaplaincy service. Every effort is made locally by the governor of each institution to co-ordinate the work of the various services.
Offenders under the age of 21 years who respond to planned programmes including pre-release, may be granted temporary release – Criminal Justice Act 1960 – under the supervision of the probation and welfare service. During pre-release planning, vocational training and employment opportunities are discussed and where possible a placement is made. Where an offender is in need of accommodation, arrangements are made by the probation and welfare service to facilitate the offender in Priorswood House, Coolock, Dublin 5 or Sarsfield House, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.
The probation and welfare service in association with community groups has developed nine day training facilities in a number of areas. Offenders under the age of 21 years on release from custody are offered a place in one of the facilities, provided that they have been assessed as suitable. The day training centres are located in the following areas: Deonach-Target, Tallaght, Dublin 24; Dochas don Oige Workshop, Galway; Moyross Probation Project, Limerick; North Clondalkin Probation Project, Clondalkin, Dublin 24; PACE Training Centre, Santry, Dublin 9; Tivoli Training Centre, Dun Laoghaire; Training Workshop, Ballinasloe, County Galway; Training Workshop, Tuam, County Galway and Treble R Industries, Chancery Street, Dublin 1.
A further two workshops will become operational in Athlone and Portlaoise later in the year.
The probation and welfare service has also made efforts to improve training and employment opportunities for offenders under the age of 21 years by engaging a small number of employment-support workers under an EU pilot project. This programme commenced in January of this year and the outcomes to date are encouraging.
