Nuala Fennell
Ceist:79 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Justice the educational facilities which exist in the Female Prison, Mountjoy, Dublin 7; their location; and if there is a waiting list.
Written Answers. - Prison Educational Facilities.
Classes in Literacy, Numeracy, English, Irish, German, Mathematics, Home Economics, Social Education, Biology, Typing-Word Processing, Crafts, Music, Drama, Photography and Yoga are conducted in a purpose-built prefabricated unit of two classrooms, by two full-time and nine part-time teachers, made available by arrangement with City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. Workshops are also conducted by artists and writers from time to time under Arts Council auspices.
Numbers in the women's prison fluctuate between about 25 and 50 and virtually all the 30 or so sentenced prisoners — as well as a few unsentenced prisoners on lengthy remand — participate in education. There can at times be a waiting list for the classes most in demand.
Refurbishment of the St. Patrick's Institution buildings, in which the women's prison is structurally incorporated, is due to be commenced this year. This refurbishment should result in additional space being made available for expansion of desirable ancillary facilities — including education — for women in custody.