Parliamentary Question: Prison Education Service.

30th September 2004

 229. Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he intends to bring forward legislation regarding the education and training of adult prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23157/04]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): As part of the Irish Prison Service's commitment to encouraging prisoners in their efforts to live law abiding and purposeful lives after release, the service continues to place strong emphasis on the provision of education and vocational training for prisoners during their time in prison. The range of these services available across the different prisons and places of detention is substantial and varied and is provided by a multiplicity of statutory, community and voluntary agencies and groups working in partnership with the Irish Prison Service.
The existing statutory instruments establishing St. Patrick's Institution and the different places of detention specify a requirement that the inmates in these institutions shall be given, in so far as the period of their detention permits, training and treatment intended to encourage and assist them to lead law abiding and self-supporting lives. These provisions will be amplified by new provisions on education and vocational training which will be included in the proposed new prison rules currently at an advanced state of drafting, with a view to replacing the Rules for the Government of Prisons 1947.
I am unclear as to the precise significance of the Deputy's reference to my bringing forward new legislation in this area specifically in relation to adult prisoners but I assure him that the development of education and vocational training services in our prisons is not being impeded by the absence of any specific statutory provision.