Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
96. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the actions she will take, following the ‘Summary of the Inspection on Education and Work Training April-June 2022’ in our prisons completed by the Inspector of Prisons, to ensure that the key issues on work training highlighted in the summary will be addressed; when she expects that these issues will no longer be highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33962/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has developed an Action Plan in response to the Office of the Inspector of Prisons “Thematic Inspection on Education & Work Training, April – June 2022 report”. The Action Plan outlines a summary of actions proposed by the Irish Prison Service to address recommendations made by the Inspectorate. Both the Office of Inspector of Prisons “Thematic Inspection on Education & Work Training, April – June 2022 report” and the Irish Prison Service Action Plan have been published and are available on Gov.ie
A key recommendation in the Office of the Inspector of Prisons Report was the need for a more strategic approach to education and work/training to facilitate rehabilitation. I can advise the Deputy that the Prison Education Taskforce was established on 23 May 2023 and is jointly chaired by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris and the Minister of State with responsibility for Law Reform in the Department of Justice, James Browne. The aim of the Taskforce is to ensure improvements in the work and training area and greater alignment between prison education and the tertiary education system to support prisoners in benefiting from education and training opportunities while in custody to support their rehabilitation and access to employment post-release.
The Prison Education Taskforce Workplan strategic objectives include;
• enhancing the understanding of the education, training needs of the prison population, strengthening information and reporting on education and training delivered in prisons,
• realising the potential for greater alignment across the prison education and training services and tertiary provision to ensure labour market readiness for prisoners on release,
• deepening and intensifying existing partnerships between the prison education and the tertiary education system,
• ensuring the role of education and training system in supporting transition of prisoners out of the prison system is maximised to reduce recidivism risk,
• supporting Open University provision and other Higher Education linkages and to explore potential for educational programmes for family members of prisoners.
Another key recommendation made by the Inspector was the need for improvement of access to education and work and training services. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service, a key challenge for the Irish Prison Service is to ensure that prisoners have regular and consistent access to the Prison Education Centre and Work and Training programmes. The loss of a substantial number of staff on a daily basis to cover court escort activity and hospital in-patient and out-patient appointments can have an adverse impact on the opening of schools and work and training programmes. Additionally Increases in the prison population have also contributed to an increase in escorts and increase demands on staff.
In order to minimise impact on services, the Prison Service is committed to strengthening the numbers of staff assigned to the Prison Service Escort Corps to limit the burden on prison based staff being reassigned to escorting duties. Under Budget 2023, a €6.5m additional staffing package was secured for the Prison Service to provide for additional staff recruitment to support rehabilitation and training. Pending the recruitment of additional staff and with effect from September 2022, additional hours were and will continue to be made available at prison level to support improvements in opening hours and access to services including education services.
A number of vacancies have been filled for Work and Training grades, further competitions are scheduled for Q3 2023.
I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service negotiated the inclusion in the Public Service Agreement: Building Momentum 2021 – 2022 the ability to directly recruit Work Training Officers. The Irish Prison Service are committed to progressing this external recruitment and have been engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard.
Balancing the demands for “digital literacy” among prisoners with security constraints is an ongoing challenge for the Irish Prison Service. The Irish Prison Service continues to work with the Education and Training Boards and other Prisoner Services to make greater use of in-cell learning opportunities. Embracing technology and providing a blended approach to learning increases the ability of teachers and Work and Training Officers to extend education and training provision to students, especially to those on restricted prison regimes or confined to cell due to, for example, infection control measures.
