The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Michael McDowell, presented certificates to nine participants of the Intensive Probation Male Groupwork Programme today.
Funding for the programme comes mainly from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with further funding from the Irish Youth foundation and the Dublin VEC. The Department has allocated €170,000 to the programme this year.
The programme aims to rehabilitate former prisoners by reducing the risk of reoffending.
It is part of the Bridge Project, which was set up in 1991, and is staffed by the Probation and Welfare Service and the City of Dublin VEC.
It operates in conjunction with FÁS, the Irish Youth Foundation, the Social Partners, the Judiciary, An Garda Siochána and is supported by the Economic & Social Research Institute.