Portlaoise prisoners to study for third level certs with €142,500 grant

INMATES at Portlaoise Prison will be able to study for higher education certificates, following a grant of €142,500 to South East Technological University (SETU).

The funding will allow SETU to run six QQI-accredited Higher Education Certificate programmes, which will be delivered in person at the maximum security prison on the Dublin Road, where there are on average 280 inmates.

The further education courses aim to help prisoners develop skills ‘that support rehabilitation and reduce the likelihood of reoffending’.

The funding announced on 29 September comes from criminal assets seized by gardaí and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).

Welcoming the grant, Laois TD Seán Fleming said in a statement: ‘This is a positive initiative. Money that has been seized from criminal activity is being put back into our community and used to support projects that make a genuine difference to people.

‘It means that the work of the Criminal Assets Bureau and An Garda Síochána is not only taking money out of the hands of criminals, but also putting it back into our community.' 

The higher certificate programmes offered by SETU range widely from business and arts to engineering and are at Level 6 in the National Qualifications Framework (NFQ), accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). The higher certificate is usually awarded after completion of a two-year programme.

Meanwhile, Deputy Fleming also welcomed a €25,000 grant for a Child Focus Road Safety and Visibility Programme community project in Laois.

The project aims to improve road safety by helping young children become more visible to drivers when travelling to and from school.