Government crops prison rehabilitation scheme

THE Government has rowed back on plans to extend a successful prison rehabilitation project into all jails, according to a leading criminal expert.

Author and lecturer Dr Paul O'Mahony said the Government pledged in 2000 to establish the Connect project in all 17 jails between 2000 and 2006 under a €58 million budget.

"More than half-way through this planned period of growth, what has happened to Connect, that rare beacon of light for the Irish prison system? In effect, it no longer exists," said Dr O'Mahony.