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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Prison Committals.

Finian McGrath

Question:

642 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of recommendations of his Department's report on intellectual disability in prisons which have been implemented. [11803/03]

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

680 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when his Department's report on the levels of intellectual disability-mental handicap in Irish prisons will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12353/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 680 together.

The report referred to by the Deputies was published on the Irish Prison Service website on 25 March 2003. Copies of the report had been forwarded to the Oireachtas Library on 17 October 2002. As I have previously said in my reply to Deputy Neville's Question No. 428 of 25 February 2003, there are strong reservations about interpreting the main finding of the study as suggesting that over 28% of the prisoner population in the country have a mental handicap. Any such suggestion is strongly disputed by people who work with prisoners in a professional capacity on a daily basis and there is a reasonable basis for argument that this unexpectedly high figure could be accounted for by measurement of factors attributable to educational deficit and social disadvantage, rather than learning disability per se.The authors of the report recommended that a number of priority steps be taken in relation to prisoners with learning disability. The director general of the Irish Prison Service has indicated that the particular recommendations relevant to the service are being considered in the context of the care and rehabilitation services for prisoners. These recommendations fall into three main categories: psychological assessment of prisoners who may have a learning disability; provision of training for personnel on needs and supports for people with learning disability and development of appropriate educational programmes and regimes in prisons designed to address the needs and learning characteristics of prisoners with learning disability. I am also informed by the director general that, at present, the routine medical, probation and education assessments at committal result in prisoners with learning disabilities coming to notice early in their time in custody. Such prisoners are provided with a range of supports appropriate to their circumstances, including, as required, referral for psychological assessment and special arrangements within education units and workshops.

Such prisoners with learning disabilities may also be referred to the prison psychology service for assistance in coming to terms with and coping with their incarceration and in addressing their needs around dealing with their offending behaviour. As necessary, on a case by case basis, the psychology service, in conjunction with the Probation and Welfare Service, makes contact with community-based services in supporting the reintegration of offenders back into the community. This would include voluntary and statutory services working within the learning difficulties sector.

Education in the prisons is provided in partnership with a range of educational agencies in the community including the vocational education committees, public library services, colleges and the Arts Council. Broad programmes of education for prisoners are made available following an adult education approach. Education units are in operation in all prisons and places of detention with the exception of Cloverhill Prison where the arrangements for education are not yet complete. Participation in education in Irish prisons – over 50% – is high by international standards and there is substantial flexibility in education delivery, with significant provision for one-to-one teaching which is particularly relevant to prisoners with learning disability. Under the programme for Government, there will be particular emphasis on tackling illiteracy and lack of educational accomplishment among prisoners and, in this regard, work is ongoing in the Irish Prison Service in relation to the following key targets in the educational area, as set forth in the Prison Service strategy statement: to maintain the prisoner participation rate in education at 50% against the background of increases in the prisoner population; and review the education curriculum to ensure its continuing relevance to prisoner needs.
The prison education service has recently prepared guidelines for quality literacy work in prisons. In addition, a study of literacy among prisoners, which was undertaken by the education department of St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, at the request of the Irish Prison Service, has recently been finalised and is in the course of being evaluated. Action in relation to literacy work with prisoners will be informed by both these publications.
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