Vol. 401 No. 2
30 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice the reasons the money allocated in the Estimates in 1987, 1988 and 1989 for training, equipment and materials within the prison service, was substantially underused in each year; if he has satisfied himself that training facilities within the prison service are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The allocation in the Prisons Vote for training equipment and materials is in respect of industrial training activities at the training unit, adjacent to Mountjoy Prison, and at the new place of detention at Wheatfield. This training is as recommended by FÁS and CERT and is designed to prepare offenders for employment after imprisonment.
The under-expenditure of the Estimates provision for 1987, 1988 and 1989 arose from the fact that provision was made each year to equip and supply the new place of detention at Wheatfield. In the event financial expenditure of the extent envisaged did not become necessary here until 1989/1990. Also, provision was made in 1987 and 1988 for the expansion of training programmes at the training unit but, on account of constraints on public service expenditure and staffing, this did not materialise.
It should be noted however that total expenditure on industrial training programmes in the three years totalled £440,000 and a further £1.2 million was spent on equipment and materials for the wide range of occupational work which is available for offenders and which, of course, has a training content. These figures are apart altogether from the staff costs involved.
In addition to the industrial training and occupational work that I have mentioned, a wide range of other activities such as craft work, hobbies and physical training is provided for in the institutions generally.
