Address by Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence
at the Launch of the Irish Association for the Social Integration of
Offenders (IASIO) Annual Report 2012
Thursday 25 July 2013
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very pleased to be here
this afternoon to officially launch the 2012 Annual Report of the Irish
Association for the Social Integration of Offenders (IASIO). This is the
first Annual Report of the new IASIO group and marks a significant
milestone in its own right.
I would like to begin by thanking your Chairperson, Mr Pat Lynch, for his
kind invitation to attend and address you here today. I also want to take
this opportunity to thank your fellow Board members, your management, and
staff for all your work culminating in the publication of your report
today. I have a particular interest in this area and I welcome all efforts
that are being made to assist with the social integration of offenders into
our communities.
I understand IASIO was formed in April 2012, when three programmes,
formerly managed by Business in the Community Ireland, transferred to the
newly formed Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders.
These are the Linkage, GATE and Resettlement programmes. The 2012 Annual
Report highlights in considerable detail the work of IASIO in providing
much needed services to offenders through these three programmes.
The largest of these programmes is the Linkage Programme which supports the
integration of offenders into the working community. It provides a
training, employment and guidance service and is funded by the Probation
Service. Finding employment is one of the key factors in helping offenders
to desist from crime. Without the work done by the Linkage Training and
Employment Officers, the particular challenges that Probation clients and
ex-prisoners face in seeking employment would be overwhelming. They help
offenders to make a range of informed choices and support them in taking
progressive steps to employment; steps that are achievable and sustainable.
Of the 1,966 people who engaged with the Linkage Programme in 2012, it is
interesting to read that these steps have led 618 persons to places in
training or education and 204 of these to an employment placement. Given
the times we are in, these figures represent worthwhile achievements and
while there is always more to be done, I congratulate you on that.
The GATE and Resettlement programmes are funded by the Irish Prison
Service. Unfortunately, it can be the case that any progress prisoners
make while in prison to tackle their offending behaviour and develop their
true potential can be all but lost following their release from custody
without the necessary supports in place. The GATE and Resettlement
programmes help to address this by providing practical assistance and
support to offenders as they make the transition from prison to living
again in the community.
The GATE Programme works with prisoners to develop plans to assist their
reintegration into the working community following their release. Through
the provision of guidance and a placement service operating within the
prison, the appropriate training, education and employment opportunities
are identified. This assists prisoners’ progress towards independence after
release and ultimate reintegration
The Resettlement Programme provides support and assistance to prisoners in
accessing essential services to meet their identified needs. Following
release, offenders are supported in accessing housing, addiction and other
services, while at the same time offered continual personal support. I am
pleased to note that both of these programmes exceeded the targets set for
2012.
The first year in operation of any organisation is a significant milestone
which inevitably brings its own challenges. I would like to compliment the
Chairman, Board, CEO and staff of IASIO who have worked in partnership with
the Probation Service and Irish Prison Service to manage a smooth
transition to the new corporate structure. I believe that this newly
formed structure has allowed the management and staff of IASIO to support
and add value to the work of the Probation Service and Irish Prison Service
which has facilitated the provision of new services to reintegrate
offenders into their community
It is also important here today to acknowledge the work of Business in the
Community Ireland which laid the solid foundation for the work now being
done by IASIO. I know that both the Probation Service and the Irish Prison
Service appreciate their involvement and support in establishing the
Linkage Programme thirteen years ago, and more recently, the GATE and
Resettlement Programmes.
As many of you will know, IASIO is jointly funded by the two agencies of my
Department; the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service. Both of
these agencies share the common goal of maintaining public safety through
the reduction of offending by those in their care, whether they are
offenders placed directly under Probation supervision by the Courts, or
sentenced to custody. They are both committed to a multi- agency approach
in all their work including planning and managing the release of offenders
and their transition back into the community.
I am pleased to say that specific actions in this interagency co-operation
are clearly set out in their joint strategic plan which I published last
May. The important support provided by IASIO to both these organisations
through the various programmes enhance their capacity to achieve
rehabilitation and resettlement objectives. I believe it all helps to
provide improved outcomes for individuals and communities across the
country.
For my part, I was delighted to meet the Board of IASIO earlier this
afternoon and to hear at first hand about their important work and
experience to date. Their report provides much more detail of course and
clearly demonstrates their active support of the Irish Prison Service and
the Probation Service through the Linkage, Gate and Resettlement
Programmes. The case studies and client profiles in the report show quite
clearly the real practical benefits involved particularly in providing
support and hope to those who wish to change their offending ways to a
positive and purposeful lifestyle. In this way, and particularly in these
difficult economic times, we can assist people to become valued pro-social
members of society.
I would like once again to congratulate IASIO on their achievements in
their first year of operation. IASIO has proven that it has the ability to
adapt to the changing needs of the Probation and Prison services,
particularly in supporting the delivery of the new Community Return
initiative. I believe the work plan outlined for 2013 is challenging, and
I look forward to hearing of continued progress and success in future.
Thank you.