3,400 ex-offenders get into work and training

MORE than 3,400 ex-offenders have managed to gain employment, education and training as part of a nationwide support programme aimed at helping those with criminal records.

The Probation Service-funded initiative has seen former offenders gain work in the construction sector, the service industry, hotel and catering, and retail, as well as in transport.

Director of the service Michael Donnellan said yesterday he would persist to keep services at optimal levels, despite cutbacks by the Government because of the economic crisis.

“All budgets are squeezed, but we are hoping we can manage our way through this and become more efficient and more effective rather than simply giving up, which we have no intention of doing,” he said.

A report for a scheme involving businesses helping ex-offenders launched yesterday found some 5,198 people with criminal records were involved in integration programmes since 2000.

Of those involved in the Linkage Programme in the eight years up until 2008, some 3,419 former offenders managed to gain places in employment, education or training. Half of those in placements were in employment.

One hotel employer said he had been very pleased taking on an ex-offender. Alan Moloney, the owner of Mount Falcon Hotel, Co Mayo, said: “If I were to be honest, from my personal experience I find there is also an altruistic benefit to be gained on a personal level by giving somebody such an opportunity. And then, for that person to subsequently prove they deserve it is extremely rewarding.”

The programme makes links between probation service workers and businesses in 25 counties. It says that the majority of ex-offenders are from communities and households in which poverty is commonplace.

As part of the scheme, business leaders toured prisons and met offenders while breakfast clubs were also provided for ex-offenders to help them master computer skills and answer local ads for jobs.

According to the Probation Service’s director, a wide range of work is available to ex-offenders: “You could be a successful person who works in a laundry or you could be a successful person who goes to university and does a degree. It’s important that we have that range.”

The majority of those involved in integration schemes were males aged 18 to 30.

Aside from mainstream employment areas, ex-offenders also became involved in jobs in the Defence Forces, healthcare, IT, sports and racing, as well as in voluntary positions.