There are two forms of treatment available to sex offenders while serving sentences: group treatment and individual counselling. At present there are the equivalent of 29 full-time professionals and two consultants engaged in treatment and rehabilitation programmes for sex offenders in prison. Four of these deliver the dedicated sex offender programme in Arbour Hill prison and the remainder deliver one-to-one counselling.
My Department has examined the possibility of locating a group treatment programme for ten sex offenders at the Curragh place of detention. I am pleased to confirm that this programme should be in place by the end of this year. In view of the specialist skills necessary to set up and run such a programme, it is taking some time to put a new programme in place. However, the recruitment of additional staff for the psychology and probation and welfare services will enable the programme to proceed. The new Curragh programme will be modelled on the sex offender treatment programme which has operated successfully in Arbour Hill prison since 1994.
Individual counselling is available in all the institutions housing sex offenders and is provided by my Department's clinical psychology service and-or by the probation and welfare service. Both the clinical psychology service and the probation and welfare service are under separate review by two expert groups at present. The expert groups are mandated to review and report on the future role, needs, structure and organisation of both services. I anticipate the early conclusion of the work of the expert groups. At this point, in advance of their reports, it is not possible to predict the extent of any further possible expansion of the treatment programmes for sex offenders in prisons to be delivered by both services. However, in the meantime, the recruitment of further psychologists for the prison service is under way. This will bring the number of psychologists in the prison service to ten and will enhance the services provided for the treatment of offenders, including sex offenders.