BACK TO SCHOOL Irish Prison Service spent almost €50m on education of prisoners over two years but classes hit by pandemic 8:30, 25 Jul 2021 THE Irish Prison Service spent almost €50million on the retraining and education of prisoners over the past two years, new figures have revealed. Inmates were taught gardening, braille, crafts and hairdressing by 346 work training officers behind bars before the pandemic struck. 1 Midlands Prison, PortlaoiseCredit: Garrett White - The Sun The Irish Prison Service run several classes such as cookery, guitar and keyboards aimed at improving the mental health of prisoners and preparing them for an eventual return to society.