Vol. 468 No. 4
641 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice if the Bridge group for the placing of ex-prisoners is operated or supported by her Department; if so, if she will give details in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15699/96]
The Bridge Project is an intensive probation supervision initiative established by my Department's probation and welfare service in 1991. The project is run as an alternative to custody and referrals are made up from the following groups:
—offenders who have committed serious crimes and, at the court stage, are placed on the programme as an alternative to custody;
—prisoners, who are serving sentences for serious crimes, and who are given temporary release on the condition that they attend the programme.
The participants are placed on a demanding community based programme while under the strict supervision of the probation and welfare service. The project provides a programme which addresses the lifestyles of offenders, aimed at diverting them from crime and finding them employment or other meaningful occupations. Recently, I was pleased to launch, on behalf of the project, a major new initiative to explain to employers the reasons why exoffenders should be considered for jobs, and the benefits that can be derived by employing them. The programme also facilitates the development of constructive personal and social skills aimed at reducing recidivism.
The bridge project has a management committee comprised of representatives of criminal justice agencies, business people, the Irish Youth Federation, City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. FÁS, ICTU, and research interests.
