Jim Higgins
Question:170 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sex offenders in prison; and the number who have undertaken or are undertaking sex offender treatment for the offences. [12532/02]
Vol. 552 No. 3
170 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sex offenders in prison; and the number who have undertaken or are undertaking sex offender treatment for the offences. [12532/02]
On 22 April 2002 there were 376 prisoners in custody for sexual offences. As I have explained to the House on previous occasions there are actually four forms of direct therapeutic intervention available to sex offenders within the Irish prison system at present. These are as follows: individual counselling from the Department's psychology service and from the probation and welfare service; the multi-disciplinary Thinking Skills group work programme in Cork prison, Arbour Hill prison and the Curragh place of detention; the sex offender treatment programme. This has been in operation in Arbour Hill Prison since 1994 and was introduced in the Curragh place of detention early last year; and the psychiatric service which provides extensive support to prisoners in this category.