Education in Prison Workshop 2026

Event

In April 2026, the “Lessons Never Learned” education in prison workshop was held in the Museum of Literature Ireland, Dublin. Attendees represented the various spheres of policymaking, prison education, lived experience, penal advocacy, the judiciary, prison oversight and monitoring, inreach service provision, and academia.

The workshop was structured around four sessional topics, each delivered by expert/s in the area:

2026 Council of Europe Recommendation on Education in Prison – Dr Anne Costelloe;
Current Educational Provision in Irish Prisons – Dr Kevin Warner;
Inside/Out Education Linking the University and Prison – Mr Robert Cullen, Dr Pieter De Witte, Dr Katharina Swirak;
Education in Prison, Relationships, and Family Support – Dr Helen Nichols.

Report

This report will provide a brief summary of each session with the accompanying slides. It is not a complete representation of the sessions and discussion as the event was not recorded. Rather, it will provide an overview of the primary topics and discussion points raised in the workshop.