Parliamentary Question: Prisoner Statistics

13th December 2001

13. Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons in prison at the latest date for which figures are available; the number who are on training or education programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31746/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): On 10 December 2001, there were 3,080 prisoners in custody, of whom 2,577 were sentenced prisoners. While the exact figures requested by the Deputy are not readily available, it is the case that all sentenced prisoners are required to participate in work or work training or to attend education classes. A prisoner may be excused only on medical grounds.
Work available for prisoners includes baking, carpentry, crafts, upholstery, cleaning, woodwork, stores, special work parties and working with trades staff on maintenance. The guiding principles which underpin the work and training service are to make available work, work-training and other purposeful activities to all those in custody. Its aims are to counteract idleness, give useful skills and serve the purpose of promoting rehabilitation. Training activities are chosen to give as much employment as possible and also to give opportunities for those in prison to acquire practical skills which will help them secure employment on release.

Prison education has grown greatly in recent decades, achieving a substantial presence in all prisons and engaging more than half of all prisoners voluntarily in classes. In most prisons throughout the country it is the main activity of prisoners. This is an exceptionally high level of participation by international standards. A broad programme of education is offered consisting of the main school subjects, adult basic education, creative activities, social education and physical education. The aims are to help inmates cope with their sentences and prepare for release and, particularly, to offer the opportunity to discover and develop new potential within themselves.

As well as seeking to draw on best practice in adult and further education in the community, there has been a lot of curriculum development over the years that is specific to prison circumstances, such as courses on addiction, health issues and offending behaviour - much of this work done in close liaison with other disciplines. Other areas where there has been significant progress in prison education are in physical education, in the provision for higher education, in the arts and in preparing prisoners for release and supporting their transition to life, and often to education, on the outside.