Parliamentary Question: Prison Education Service.

30th September 2004

224. Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners who participated in training courses during 2003 while incarcerated; the number of these who completed or failed to complete this training; the number of those beginning training in prison who continued it upon release; and the number of prisoners who obtained diplomas while incarcerated. [23152/04]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): I am informed by the director general of the Irish Prison Service that records of prisoner participation in vocational training programmes are not maintained in such a way as to provide the information sought by the Deputy without the expenditure of significant staff time and involving considerable financial cost. However, I am also informed that the Irish Prison Service is developing a service-wide computerised vocational training programme database to record, on a prisoner by prisoner basis, participation in vocational training activity and achievement of recognised qualifications. This database will allow for ongoing monitoring of prisoners' progress and efficient production of management information. Once operational, it will allow for the production of information of the nature sought by the Deputy.
In prisons, the main emphasis of the work training programme is to provide employment-training opportunities for prisoners while ensuring a high quality of service delivery within the prison. The programme involves a range of training and work experience in areas such as catering and laundry, metal work, printing, computers, Braille, woodwork, drawing, construction, clothing manufacture, craft work, farming, horticulture, indexing, painting and decorating, upholstery, baking, and electronics. The range and quality of vocational training opportunities is under continuing review and is being enhanced with a view to the incorporation of more programmes leading to recognised qualifications. Accreditation of vocational training in prisons is provided by a range of agencies, including FETAC, FÁS, Fáilte Ireland, City and Guilds of London, engineering inspection services, ECDL and Dublin city libraries.\