2. An Introduction to The Irish Prison System Based on the findings of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice report first published in 2012

3. Introduction to the Irish Prison System  Rising Prison Population  Worsening Conditions  Overcrowding  Doubling up on cell space  Extra pressure put on Service Providers  Limits time out of cells

4. Socio Economic Background  High numbers of prisoners come from areas with a lot of social and economic difficulties.  Many lack literacy, training or educational qualifications.  Many suffer from mental illness.  Others have drug/alcohol addictions  Homeless issues  Over representation of the travelling community

5. Age Profiles  2/3 of all committals are aged between 21-39  Total of 221 prisoners are under 18 (children the law)  1,581 over the age of 18 but under 21  Over 5% aged 50 and over  120 prisoners are over 60  82 are between the ages of 60-70  16 are between 70-80  Over 4 are over 80

6. Women in Irish Prisons  There is also a high rise in this category  In 2010 there were 1,701 committals  The majority of these were aged between 21-39  Women are imprisoned in the Dochas Centre (part of the Mount joy Complex in Dublin) and in E wing in Limerick Prison

7. The Prisons December 2010  14 Prisons  4,313 prisoners  There are a range of prisons in Ireland  High Security, Medium Security, Open Prisons and the Training Unit  Each are unique in their own way

8. Mountjoy  For men  Population 590  Education available for about 80 prisoners along with workshops and training facilities

9. Cork Prison  For men  Population 259  Purpose built education unit that facilitates a broad range of practical and academic subjects.  Also several workshops  Very good post release services in education, housing and addiction

10. Limerick Prison  For men and women  Population 300 men and 30 women  Key issue in Limerick Prison is segregation. It is rife and constricting.  Fairly new purpose built education Unit.  It consists of 2 floors with classrooms for art, crafts  Ceramics, computers, home economics, academic classes, a music studio, and a library.  The same building also houses on separate floors, a gym and sports hall and a medical unit.

11. Subjects on offer in Limerick  English (state/vocational exam levels plus literacy training)  Maths (state/vocational exam levels)  Home Economics  Languages  Music  Computing  Health and Drug Awareness  Woodwork workshop  Arts  Business/accounting  Ceramics  Calligraphy  Crafts  History  Tai Chi  Yoga  Health and Fitness  Physical Education

15. Impediments to delivery  Segregation of wings and within wings  Lack of class officers  Drug issues  Mental issues

16. Implementation of Services  There is a wide curriculum facilitated through adult education methods employed by  VEC’s (Vocational Education Committees)  Community Groups  Voluntary Groups  P. E. (physical education) prison staff