IPRT Submission to the Prison Education Taskforce

19th December 2023

In December 2023, Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) made a submission to the Prison Education Taskforce, which is jointly chaired by the Minister of Further Education and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Minister of State with responsibility for Law Reform in the Department of Justice. 

While the expertise of IPRT primarily lies in the area of penal policy, IPRT views educational disadvantage and inequality as one symptom of wider social exclusion in society, and social exclusion and social injustice are intrinsically linked to penal policy. 

This submission outlines the key points IPRT would like to raise about prison education, offers examples of progressive practice internationally, explores some relevant data and data gaps, and makes some broad policy and practice recommendations. 

Read the submission to the Prison Education Taskforce here or download it from the file below.