Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 May 2017
77. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a review will take place of education provision in prisons and of the three year joint education strategy with the education and training boards for the 2016 to 2018 period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21327/17]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Joint Irish Prison Service/Education Training Board Ireland Education Strategy 2016-2018 for the Prison Education Service, which I launched in conjunction with the Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2016-2018 on 27 June 2016, will be subject to an annual meeting to review its implementation. The first of these review meetings took place on 11 November 2016 and was attended by representatives of the Irish Prison Service and by CEOs of the Education Training Boards and Prison Head Teachers. It is envisaged that a new Joint Irish Prison Service/ Education Training Board Ireland Education Strategy will be formulated at the completion of the current Strategy.
The Joint Education Strategy Statement details how the Irish Prison Service and Education Training Boards will work together to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of education within Irish prisons.
The provision of a broad-based, flexible relevant education service is designed to cater for the complex educational needs of persons in custody, covering a wide spectrum from Basic Education to Third Level programmes. It balances the need for practical, up-to-date accredited learning and learning for personal development within a philosophy of Second Chance, Continuing or Adult Education.
