Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2004
133 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the level of education being provided in places of detention in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9230/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am satisfied that the education provided for prisoners by a cohort of teachers comprising 214 full-time equivalents, mainly employed by vocational education committees, is both substantial and varied. The education curriculum ranges from basic literacy to Open University courses, and includes structured physical education, health education, social education, the arts in various forms, as well as more conventional school subjects leading to junior and leaving certificate and FETAC certification. The participation rate in education by Irish prisoners — approximately 50 % — compares very favourably with international standards.
A particular feature of the prisoner population, as identified by the prison adult literacy survey published in June 2003, is the low level of literacy among just over half of all prisoners, that is, level one or below. I have asked the director general of the Irish Prisons Service to give priority to literacy programmes in all prisons in line with the recommendations of the survey report and the commitment to prisoner literacy in the Agreed Programme for Government.
