Parliamentary Question: Probation and Welfare Service
12th June 2001
498. Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the counselling and other supports available to those released from prison to help them integrate back into society; the way in which such assistance can be accessed; the plans he has to improve such integration procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17094/01]
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): Offenders, including life sentenced offenders, go through a process of preparation for release into the community and many remain under the supervision of my Department's probation and welfare service while serving the balance of their sentences on release. The service uses a variety of organisations in providing support and facilities for the long-term prisoner.
Projects in the local community assist in the resettlement of offenders released from custody in providing training programmes and job opportunities. Ongoing efforts are made to provide more projects, subject to acceptance by the local community. These projects are financially assisted by my Department through the probation and welfare service.
In addition, the Prison Service is planning to build half-way house type units at Cork and Limerick Prisons for both men and women. It is hoped that these will become operational early in 2002. In the longer term, a similar unit is also planned for Mountjoy Prison as part of the refurbishment of the Mountjoy complex. The Dóchas Centre - Mountjoy Women's Prison - already has a pre-release unit which accommodates up to seven prisoners who are generally nearing the end of medium to long-term sentences and are actively engaged in rehabilitative programmes, such as education and work training.
The national development plan will also, through prison work programmes such as the CONNECT project, make a significant contribution towards preparing offenders for employment and, in addition, the linkage programme in the community will advance the position of employment placement.
