asked the Minister for Justice the nature of the research projects commissioned by his Department in relation to prisons recently completed and currently under study by him, and if it is proposed to publish the findings of such research.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Research Projects on Prisons.
4.
In relation to the research project completed by the Institute of Public Administration, I refer the Deputy to my reply just now to Question No. 3.
A survey report prepared by the Irish National Council on Alcoholism, which is a very large and technical report in three volumes, deals with the incidence of alcoholism among prisoners. The report is not suitable for publication in its present form. The feasibility of publishing a summary of the report is at present under consideration.
A survey is being carried out at the Training Unit, Glengarriff Parade, to assess the performance in outside employment of offenders who have completed training courses in the unit. The survey will not be completed before the end of next year. The purpose of the survey is to measure for training purposes the effectiveness of the course. It is not envisaged that the findings of the survey will be published.
Apart from research on issues related to alcoholism and the rehabilitation of ex-inmates of the Glengarriff Centre, are there any other research projects under way by the Minister's Department—for example, in the areas of recidivism, or any other area of the whole penal system, or does this constitute the total of the research at present being undertaken?
Might I say very briefly—for fear the Deputy would draw wrong conclusions—these are the only two areas in which reports are on hand at present. Nevertheless, the Department of Justice have access to research projects undertaken in other countries and by the Council of Europe. Of course some of these would be of limited value because national conditions and characteristics have to be taken into account. The organisation division of the Department of Justice—and the Deputy is now spoiling my reply to the Supplementary Estimate which I hoped to get in today, next week or whenever—are currently taking steps to establish a research and statistics unit in the Department. The establishment of such a unit was recommended by the interdepartmental committee on mentally ill and maladjusted persons, that is, the Henchy Committee.
That is good news. But, apart from that, are there no other research projects at present commissioned by the Minister's Department?
No, but that does not imply that we have not got——
I am not suggesting that the Minister was unwilling——
Fair enough.