Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 2

Written Answers. - Probation and Welfare Service.

Dan Boyle

Question:

108 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the training and rehabilitation services given to individuals after they have served prison sentences; and the changes he intends making in this area. [23826/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

Voluntary aftercare support is offered to all prisoners who wish to avail of it.

However, once a person's prison sentence has ended, there is no enduring obligation on that individual to remain in contact with the criminal justice system or with the agencies of my Department. There are a small number of exceptions to this including sex offenders who may be required to register with their local Garda station and life sentenced prisoners who may be required to remain under supervision by the probation and welfare service for many years after their release.

Offenders who leave custody having served their sentences will usually have had contact with probation and welfare officers, the prison education service and other services within the prison to facilitate preparation for their return to the community in a way that maximises the prospect of a crime free lifestyle. Criminogenic issues will usually have been identified and addressed while in custody and contact initiated with the relevant support services. Offenders are encouraged and facilitated on release in continuing this process by linking up with community based agencies, dealing with educational and vocational training, alternative accommodation, job placement, substance abuse treatment, etc. Many of the services are provided by voluntary bodies and community groups, some operating under the aegis of the probation and welfare service while others who accept referrals of offenders are supported financially by my Department in the work they are doing.

While the specific focus of the Deputy's question is on after-release training and rehabilitative services for persons whose sentences have ended, I should also mention that the prison service provides to those in custody a wide range of rehabilitative programmes which have the dual purpose of providing prisoners with purposeful activity while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead non-offending lives on release.

The Deputy may be aware that the National Economic and Social Forum published a report earlier this year on the re-integration of prisoners. A central focus of this report is the barriers to reintegration and the need for targeted and coherent mechanisms to ensure that prisoners can be more effectively integrated back into the community. The report's overall conclusion is that what is required are key institutional mechanisms and models to spearhead and ensure effective follow-through on the report's recommendations.

Priority is being given to developing these mechanisms. A high level co-ordination group on prisoner reintegration has been established, and is chaired by an Assistant Secretary from my Department. This group is composed of senior officials from the Departments and statutory agencies who are identified in the report as having a role to play in progressing its implementation. The group will also be drawing on the expertise of the many community and voluntary groups that have experience of dealing with the issues raised by the report. The group is currently examining the areas for action highlighted in the report and will oversee the implementation of the appropriate recommendations.