Government crops prison rehabilitation scheme
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.
"Rather than expanding and flourishing, it has little by little been scaled back until it has eventually withered, disappearing almost without trace."
Dr O'Mahony said only a small fraction of the 58m had been spent and that the remainder had been officially withdrawn.
The Trinity College Dublin academic placed some of the blame at the door of Justice Minister Michael McDowell.
"I believe that part of the explanation is to be found in the fact that Minister McDowell and the other important decision-makers have never been fully sincere in their commitment to prioritising the enablement of prisoners and ex-prisoners."
The Connect project was set up in 2000 following a successful three-year pilot study in Mountjoy Prison. The project found that those who had taken part were 10 times less likely to re-offend on release than other prisoners.
The pilot project was run by the National Training and Development Institute (NTDI), part of the Rehab Group. The institute was kept on by the Department of Justice as consultants in the design and implementation of the roll-out programme.
Paula Lawlor of NTDI, who has been closely involved in Connect since its pilot days, confirmed little progress has been made on the roll-out.
Ms Lawlor said the project "produces exceptionally positive results for prisoners"." The 2001 review of the pilot project showed that of the 140 participants who had left the prison, only eight had since returned to jail. In addition, 50 of the ex-prisoners who had kept in contact with the project were in full-time employment.
A spokesman for the Prison Service said Connect never had a standalone budget.
He said the €58m was for all National Development Plan-related initiatives in the Prison Service, including support for the Special Olympics in 2003.
He said Connect was established in three Dublin prisons Mountjoy, Dochas Centre and the Training Unit.
"Its operation has, however, been significantly affected by the ongoing industrial relations/financial situation pending the outcome of the current negotiations with the Prison Officers' Association."
He added: "The plans for Connect are to get the project back in full operation in the three prisons mentioned and to continue the roll-out to Limerick, which has been suspended pending the outcome of the negotiations with the POA."
