Vol. 546 No. 3
28 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the additional measures which may be taken to facilitate the re-entry into the workforce of ex-offenders; and his plans regarding further initiatives in this regard. [31608/01]
I am very conscious of the difficulties which ex-prisoners can face when attempting to get a foothold in the workforce. I also recognise the importance of employment in helping ex-prisoners to re-integrate into the community. My Department administers a wide range of employment support services which are designed to assist and encourage the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups, including ex-offenders, to return to work, training or further education.
The back to work allowance scheme provides incentives and encourages long-term unemployed people, lone parents and certain persons with disabilities, to return to work by allowing them to retain part of their social welfare payment when they take up employment or self-employment. The scheme has been highly successful since its introduction. In order to assist ex-prisoners to take their place in society, periods spent in prison can be used for the purposes of access to this scheme. My Department's employment support service also administers the back to education allowance programme. Periods spent in prison may also be used to facilitate access to this scheme.
In order to ensure the continued relevance of the back to education scheme, my Department is in the process of commissioning an independent comprehensive evaluation of the scheme. This will cover all aspects of the current scheme, including the qualifying requirements, and will form the basis for any future changes to the scheme.
Recent studies have indicated that ex-prisoners may not be fully aware of the employment support options which are available. My Department is in contact with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with a view to providing user friendly information and contact details to ex-prisoners to enable them to access the employment opportunities which are available. My Department's existing employment support programmes, coupled with a wide range of supports and interventions currently available through other State agencies, can provide a good quality of support to ex-offenders.
Does the Minister accept that the comment of the much admired governor of Mountjoy Prison, Mr. John Lonergan, that 88% of offenders were unemployed at the time they went to prison, is a fundamental aspect of their characteristics? Some 96% of those offenders come from the two lowest socio-economic groups and 75% of prisoners and offenders in Dublin come from six small postal districts. One half of those had left school by age 15 and one-quarter had spent time in psychiatric hospitals.
As a director of the northside partnership in Dublin, I am aware of the progress made due to the "Linkage" and "Connect" programmes. However, given the background of offenders, if we want to integrate ex-offenders back into the workforce, it is necessary to take a much more proactive step. I did not notice resources being put forward for this purpose in the budget.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Family, Community and Social Affairs might look at what is being done in relation to this issue. There have been indications that ex-prisoners are not fully aware of their entitlements when they come out of prison.
The Minister stopped their welfare in the past.
However, my Department is in consultation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in order to inform them of their entitlements. In relation to ex-paramilitary prisoners there is a huge amount of work being done to try to re-integrate them into normal civilised society.
Politics.
Again, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Family, Community and Social Affairs might wish to see what is being done in that area and let the general public know what is being done, particularly under the Good Friday Agreement.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): I know one ex-offender who learned skills in prison and is a very hard working, successful, self-employed businessman. In view of that, does the Minister think that more emphasis should be laid on training in prison? If offenders came out with skills they would fit in more easily. I know there is certain training but there should be more emphasis on training while offenders are in prison.
I agree that more can be done although this is not my area of direct responsibility. That is not say that offenders do not get training, they do, and particularly in the prison mentioned by Deputy Broughan. All of these schemes are now available to ex-prisoners. The period of time when they are in prison is taken into account and they do not lose out because they are in prison. They can qualify for the excellent back to work allowance scheme and the back to education scheme which allows them to go into education, even if they do not have training, while retaining social welfare payments if they have to rely on social welfare when they come out of prison. A lot has changed in recent years to facilitate prisoners, unlike decades ago when they were left on the pile and the supports of the State were not available to them.
Does the Minister agree with the recent report of the National Economic and Social Forum that there is a special responsibility on the State as an employer in this regard, and that the traditional rule of non-admission to State employment for ex-offenders should be urgently re-examined and rescinded?
That is not my area of responsibility and I do not wish to respond to the Deputy on this matter. He should take it up with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
