Prisoners' course in retrofitting gets underway at Midlands Prison

Prisoners approaching their release date at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise are being offered a chance to undergo training in retrofitting from today (Monday).

The programme - the Retrofit Skills Course QQI Level 5 component award - is being made available in the Midlands Prison and in Dublin's Wheatfield Prison.

Laois Offaly Education and Training Board's National Construction Centre, at Mount Lucas, has worked closely with the Irish Prison Service over the last year to make the course available.

The first of the pilot programmes starts today in the Midlands Prison.

Announcing the initiative, Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and James Browne, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, said it would give prisoners the skillset to obtain "well-paid meaningful employment" in the area of retrofitting.

"We know we need to do more to improve education and upskilling opportunities for people in custody to support their rehabilitation and employment post-release. This is the aim of the Prison Education Taskforce, chaired by myself and Minister Browne," said Minister Harris.

"This programme will be offered to those who are close to release – and will equip them with the training and skills they need to become active participants in the jobs market. Midlands Prison will commence with its first training group today.

"These courses will give them the skills they need to get sustainable jobs on release, while also creating skilled workers to help deliver on our targets under Housing for All."

Minister Browne added: "Education and training allow people to see alternative choices, a different future and to move away from criminality.

"We can't underestimate the importance of taking an employment-focused view of education in our prisons.

"Retrofitting is a service that is in big demand in Ireland at the moment so I am very pleased that Minster Harris and I have been able to secure this important new training programme."

"This qualification will have a positive impact on the individual themselves and their families by supporting people accessing gainful employment.

"The programme will also be of big benefit to communities by increasing the availability of retrofitting professionals to help homeowners safeguard against the cost of living and help the environment by improving energy efficiency in their homes," stated Minister Browne.