Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 3

Written Answers. - Literacy Levels.

Jack Wall

Question:

63 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the recent survey of literacy levels in prisons which showed an alarming level of illiteracy among prisoners and that as many as half have low literacy levels; the steps being taken to address the educational needs of prisoners; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed that reductions in funding have led to a number of cutbacks in the education service provided by vocational education committees for a number of prisons in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21543/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

My Department allocates teaching resources to vocational education committees to support the delivery of education programmes, including literacy programmes, in the prison system. Such allocations are made under the heading of "Co-operation Hours with other Institutions".

A total of 214.24 whole-time equivalent teaching posts have been allocated to this service for the 2003-04 school year. The allocation to the prison service in the Dublin area for the 2003-04 school year is 81.98 wholetime equivalent teacher posts. The allocation to the service in Dublin for the 2002-03 school year was 85.55 wholetime equivalent teacher posts. The allocation of teaching resources under the co-operation heading has to be managed within the overall teaching resource available to my Department and in the context of the cap on public sector numbers generally. This inevitably requires prioritisation in the utilisation of available resources. In this context, I am satisfied that the very small reduction in the allocation to the Prison Service is not unreasonable and I understand that arrangements have been made within the service to maintain a satisfactory level of programme delivery for the coming year.