Vol. 461 No. 8
11 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice the specific treatment, if any, that is given to each addicted offender in each prison; the extent to which doctors are involved in the treatment of each prisoner; the level of observation, by way of tests, there is of the use by offenders of illegal drugs in prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4010/96]
38 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice the specific treatment, if any, given to each addicted offender in each prison; the extent to which doctors are involved in the treatment of each prisoner; the level of observation of the use by offenders of illegal drugs in prison by way of tests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3913/96]
I intend to take Questions Nos. 11 and 38 together.
Individual prisoners' medical files are confidential in the context of the doctor-patient relationship and, therefore, the information requested in respect of specific treatment received by prisoners is not available. All prisoners, including those who are suffering from drug addiction, have daily access to the prison medical officer who may arrange for appropriate treatment in each case either within the institution or, as required, in an outside hospital.
The testing of prisoners for drugs of addiction is currently carried out on a very limited voluntary basis usually in conjunction with a course of treatment aimed at enabling the individual to control and eventually eliminate their dependency on drugs. Plans which are currently at an advanced stage for the new treatment facility and the drug-free unit at Mountjoy Prison complex include a comprehensive testing programme for those availing of both facilities. Prisoners will not be allowed access to these places if they do not consent to, and comply with, urine tests on site on a very frequent basis.
Does the Minister regard the provision of five part-time doctors assigned on a sessional basis to Mountjoy to meet the needs of up to 600 male prisoners — many of whom are chronic drug addicts — as an adequate response to the problems posed by drug addiction offenders? Does the Minister believe the provision of one part-time doctor to St. Patrick's Institution to deal with as many as 2,000 young people committed there every year, is an adequate response to this chronic drug addiction problem? Is there a comprehensive methadone maintenance programme in Mountjoy with counselling to stabilise chaotic drug abusers, or with random drug testing of urine which is part and parcel of such a regime?
There is no comprehensive methadone treatment facility in Mountjoy Prison and that is precisely why, having discovered such deficiencies in the prison system when taking office, I was determined to do something about it. I will be opening a 96-cell unit in March so that prisoners who wish to serve their sentences in a drug-free atmosphere will be able to do so. I am turning the health care unit into a proper drug treatment unit so people can receive more targeted and co-ordinated drug treatment whilst they are, as it were, a captive audience inside our prisons.
The current medical service provided in Mountjoy has been there for more than 20 years and I am not satisfied with it. Discussions are taking place with the Irish Medical Organisation to try to finalise a contract for doctors in the prison. It should have been done many years ago. There was a sort of ad hoc arrangement in providing the medical service.
While I am determined to do something about it, I am not saying that individual doctors are inadequate. However, the changing pattern of prisoners going into Mountjoy has necessitated a change in the medical service we provide. I am making those changes by providing proper drug treatment facilities and a drug-free unit.
When the Minister referred to a 96-cell unit which will be drug-free did she mean that the rest of the prison will be left awash with drugs? It is notable that the drug free unit is significantly smaller than the rest of Mountjoy. How many full-time doctors will be assigned to the new drug detoxification unit to which the Minister referred? Will they be full-time specialists in the area? Is the Minister aware that prison spending has increased by 50 per cent in the past five years, yet the prison population has only increased by 7 per cent? Is the Minister aware that £4 million was spent on a medical centre in Mountjoy which has not been used? Will the Minister comment on that misallocation of funding?
The medical centre in Mountjoy has been used. Unfortunately, there was a fire in the health care unit before Christmas which is the reason for the delay until April in bringing forward the drug treatment centre. The place needs to be rewired and redecorated. I understand the treatment facility has 52 beds — I will correct this if it is not accurate — and it will have a full-time doctor. I hope nursing facilities will also be available, but this is still subject to discussions with the prison officers and other staff members.
The drug free unit is for prisoners who come into prison free of drugs and for those who opt to get treatment and agree to undergo a certain regime while in prison. Allied to that, I am making treatment more widely available to all prisoners. Approximately 40 per cent of prisoners entering Mountjoy each year are drug abusers or have had some serious problems with drugs. I would be wrong to claim that I will be 100 per cent successful in turning all these drug addicts into decent law abiding citizens while in prison for some months or years. A start is being made by providing them with a facility so they may begin to tackle their habit while in prisons. For the greater good and security of people, this is the way forward. As the project gets under way, I will expand it as much as possible into the main prison so that it will eventually be drug free.
St. Patrick's institution deals primarily with young offenders. Will the Minister improve medical facilities there for young men among whom there is a very high incidence of drug addiction? At present, one part time doctor is assigned to St. Patrick's. Will she improve on this rather pathetic response to their medical needs?
The discussions taking place with the IMO as regards the issue of contracts for doctors in hospitals will include all doctors. I hope when those negotiations are complete we will be able to establish a better medical service. By and large, prisoners who require medical treatment get it. Every day many prisoners receive treatment in hospitals outside the prison service. It is not true that prisoners are lying around waiting for medical treatment. Medical treatment is provided, but it was not adequately developed as the prison population has changed in recent years. I am glad that I am taking steps to make those changes.
