A programme offering opportunities for ex-offenders to be placed in jobs, training and employment was meeting its aims and objectives with great success, the Minister for Justice said yesterday. Michael McDowell was announcing the annual report for 2004 of the Linkage Programme which links employers and ex-offenders.
The report showed that last year 1,242 people were referred to the programme, of whom 971 became actively engaged, a 30 per cent rise on the previous year.
Of these, 550 were placed and the remaining 421 continued involvement with the programme while their needs were assessed and opportunities for them were identified. From February 2000, when the project first began, 2,307 individuals had engaged with Linkage. Of these, 1,589 had been placed in employment, education or training.
The Minister said the programme, a joint project between Business in the Community Ireland and the Probation and Welfare Service, could benefit employers, ex-offenders and the wider community.
"This programme and its results thus far are evidence of an ever-increasing willingness to recognise that offender reintegration into society is the concern of all stakeholders," he said.