Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2009
284 Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of places available annually on the sex offenders programme in prisons here; the number of prisoners who completed the programme in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; the number who have completed the programme in 2009 or are in the process of completing the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34726/09]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, on 22 April 2009 I announced a new policy on the management of sex offenders in prison. The new policy document is available on the website of the Irish Prison Service (www.irishprisons.ie). The policy is aimed at bringing about changes in offenders' lives that reduce the risk of re-offending and enhance public protection. It forms an integral part of the wider range of interventions by criminal justice and community-based agencies.
A new programme of group interventions commenced in January 2009, replacing the Sex Offender Programme initiated in 1994 and concluded last year. The programme, "Building Better Lives", is available in Arbour Hill Prison. It comprises three modules: "Exploring Better Lives", "Practising Better Lives", and "Maintaining Better Lives".
The programme allows more responsive and flexible delivery of rehabilitation services to a greater number of offenders. The interventions take greater account of individual risk, needs and capacity, with higher risk offenders, for example, spending longer on offence-based work where necessary.
It is expected that the programme will be fully operational by end 2010 and will deliver interventions with up to 60 offenders each year. To date, thirteen offenders have completed the first module and another eight offenders are currently participating. One offender has completed the second module while eight offenders have commenced it.
With regard to the Sex Offender Programme which ran from 1994 to 2008, eight offenders completed the programme in 2005, eight offenders in 2006, seven offenders in 2007 and eight offenders in 2008. This intensive programme took eleven months to complete and over its lifetime a total of 136 sex offenders completed the programme.
Prison-based therapeutic interventions with convicted sex offenders also include one-to-one interventions, interventions by approved in-reach services and interventions available to prisoners generally.
