Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
515. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the participation rates of prisoners in education during their sentences by prison; the budget for the provision of such services in 2017 and to date in 2018; the access to education for prisoners on restricted regimes; the number of prisoners completing further or higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25098/18]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that from 01 January 2018 to end April 2018, 31.85% of the overall prison population attended the prison education centres. A breakdown by prison is provided in the following table.
Education - Participation Rates
|
Institution |
January2018 |
February2018 |
March2018 |
April 2018 |
|
Arbour Hill |
70.9% |
50.0% |
52.6% |
46.8% |
|
Castlerea |
45.5% |
33.1% |
33.6% |
33.8% |
|
Cloverhill |
22.9% |
19.0% |
17.2% |
17.1% |
|
Cork |
46.0% |
38.6% |
34.7% |
32.9% |
|
Limerick |
43.7% |
36.5% |
33.9% |
46.2% |
|
Loughan House |
81.7% |
59.7% |
61.2% |
33.9% |
|
Midlands |
37.8% |
27.4% |
25.0% |
58.5% |
|
Mountjoy Female |
54.0% |
39.5% |
36.9% |
26.5% |
|
Mountjoy Male |
19.8% |
19.5% |
16.7% |
18.0% |
|
Mountjoy West |
58.1% |
42.5% |
47.0% |
35.9% |
|
Portlaoise |
50.2% |
44.2% |
42.1% |
45.7% |
|
Shelton Abbey |
55.7% |
42.3% |
42.6% |
49.5% |
|
Wheatfield |
23.8% |
19.4% |
15.2% |
19.6% |
|
Average All Prisons |
38.8% |
30.4% |
28.9% |
29.3% |
The Education budget for 2017 was €1,065m, this covers education fees, materials and equipment. The 2018 budget allocation is €1,265m.
There are currently 57 prisoners completing Open University courses.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes can offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences, and can encourage them to lead law abiding lives on release.
Prison Management take all reasonable steps to ensure that all prisoners who request access to education are provided with educational support. Education classes are provided to those who are on restricted regimes where possible and all prisoners have access to reading materials, education and art resources on request.
