Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2018
119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of the number of prisoners who have had access to education or rehabilitative training in 2018 with particular reference to first time offenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42719/18]
View answer120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if access to educational or rehabilitative training among the prison population is dominated by long-term recidivists or first time offenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42720/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.
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 encouraging them to lead law abiding lives on release. These programmes are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible to use the services, including first time offenders.
The matter in which records are collated does not allow us to provide statistics re the percentage of the number of prisoners that have had access to education or rehabilitative training in 2018 with particular reference to first time offenders.
