Part of the IPS’ rehabilitation scheme to give inmates vocational training before release, the equipment will be installed at workshops across Ireland over the course of a two-year contract.

The first prisons to be fitted with print finishing equipment are anticipated to be Arbour Hill Prison, near Dublin, and Limerick Prison. Deliveries to other prisons might be requested during the contract.

The IPS will require: a desktop perfect binder, capable of up to 180 books per hour with 40mm capacity and spine roughener; an A3 desktop autofeed perforator of up to 8,000sph and formats up to A3; a creasing perforator, a trifold folder for materials up to 350gsm, an A3 folder, alongside collator, guillotines, a punch and a laminator.

The successful suppliers and any contractors working for them will need to undergo vetting by the Garda (police), with the security clearance process taking up to several months.

“The Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on the provision of vocational training activities for prisoners and seeks to ensure that persons in custody have access to meaningful and constructive training,” the tender document states.

“Training activities are chosen to give opportunities to acquire skills which help secure employment on release and are an essential requirement in improving rehabilitation outcomes. The supply of specialised print workshop equipment is an essential requirement in this activity.”

The Irish Prison Service has 126 workshops over the prison estate, with courses ranging from printing to computing, woodwork, metalwork, construction and horticulture. 

Around 378 staff teach the inmates, with more than 900 prisoners taking courses each day. Courses are externally accredited by outside bodies like City & Guilds. Several prisons’ training directly support charities, including a children’s hospital, Barnardos, and a specialist centre for the visually impaired.