Vol. 488 No. 6
4 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will expand the number of drugs detoxification places in prisons so that drug-dependent prisoners can be offered an exit from the cycle of drugs and crime. [6856/98]
As I have said on many occasions in the past, I believe the most effective strategy in dealing with drug addicted offenders is a combination of appropriate treatment, education and rehabilitation. To this end, as the Deputy will be aware, there are specially designed information programmes which address the risks associated with the misuse of drugs in all our prisons. Not all of our penal institutions have a significant drug problem. The majority of offenders with such problems are located in institutions in the Dublin area, in particular in Mountjoy Prison.
A detoxification programme has been in operation in Mountjoy Prison's health care unit for some time. This programme is operated by the medical personnel in the prison and is aimed at weaning addicts off drugs by means of gradually reducing dosages of substitutes such as methadone. The programme is modelled on similar hospital-based units in the community. In addition to those inmates admitted to the health care unit, methadone may be prescribed by the medical officer for offenders who are accommodated in the general prison population in Mountjoy Prison and in any of the other institutions.
I accept that the number of places available in dedicated drug treatment facilities in our prisons is insufficient. It is my intention to have a medical treatment programme and a secure drug-free unit in every closed institution, where it is considered necessary, as soon as possible. However, the progress which can be made in this area is hampered to some extent by the severe overcrowding problem in some of our prisons. The Deputy will be aware I am addressing the overcrowding problem at present.
The medical treatment of drug addicts, in common with the provision of all medical services in the prison system, is co-ordinated by the Director of Prison Medical Services who liaises regularly with the health boards to try to ensure a level of primary health care for prisoners equivalent to that available in the community. Developments in medical services for drug addicts in the community are closely monitored with a view to their application in prisons where practicable. In this regard, I am pleased to note there has been an ongoing high degree of co-operation between the Eastern Health Board, including the agencies under its aegis, and my Department. I trust this co-operation will continue and, where feasible, expand.
The Eastern Health Board's consultant psychiatrists with responsibility for drug misuse, who provide sessions in Mountjoy, have been in discussion with officials in my Department, including the Director of Prison Medical Services and the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, with a view to extending and improving the drug treatment services provided to prisoners including, where appropriate, methadone maintenance. Similar developments are envisaged in regard to tackling the drug problem in other prisons where the need is established.
When does the Minister expect a proper service to be provided to deal with drug addicts in prisons? There is a huge heroin addiction problem in some jails, particularly Mountjoy. Does he agree it is perverse and outrageous that a state of the art drug treatment facility is not available in prisons? Prison seems to be the easiest place to encounter drug addicts. It is amazing there is no proper service and that this has been allowed continue for a long period.
The drugs free unit has been in operation for 20 months and a comprehensive review of its operation is under way. It is my intention to have a medical treatment programme, if necessary, and a secure drug-free unit in every closed institution. I cannot give the precise date of when this will occur other than to say it will be as soon as possible. It is hampered by the problem of overcrowding, which we are taking vigorous steps to end.
Does the Minister accept it might be a better arrangement for the prison health services to be organised through the health boards and the Department of Health and Children? Are men and women on methadone treatment able to avail of it when in prison, particularly Mountjoy? Can the Minister guarantee they can continue that treatment if they have been convicted while on methadone?
The drugs treatment unit in Mountjoy is working relatively well. However, the provision of such services is hampered by overcrowding. Counselling is provided by the probation and welfare service, not the health board and there is input from a number of community agencies. I accept that efforts should be complemented by a dedicated addiction counselling service. I asked the prisons division of the Department and the director of the prison medical services to address this issue as a matter of urgency.
I hope a suitable arrangement can be entered into with the Eastern Health Board to address the need for a dedicated addiction counselling service in the near future. The Eastern Health Board's consultant psychiatrists, with responsibility for drug misuse, provide sessions in Mountjoy and have been in discussion with officials of my Department, including the director of prison medical services and the governor of Mountjoy, with a view to extending and improving the drug treatment services provided to prisoners, including, where appropriate, methadone maintenance. Similar developments are envisaged in relation to tackling the drug problem in other prisons where necessary.
I am not clear whether the Minister answered my question. Is the Minister saying that if someone is on methadone treatment before they go to prison, they must go through counselling and the psychiatrist determines whether that treatment should continue? Does this mean that people on methadone are no longer given the opportunity to continue treatment which is vital to any chance of recovery?
I thought I answered the question. In addition to inmates admitted to the healthcare unit, methadone may be prescribed to offenders who are accommodated in the general prison population. That is the position in Mountjoy and any other institution. Methadone may be prescribed by the medical officer.
(Mayo): Mountjoy prison is riddled with drugs and we acknowledge this is a difficult problem. On detoxification and treatment, what is being done in the area of follow-up care for prisoners released back into society and into the type of environment which initially led them into jail? When they are released, they fall prey, almost immediately, to the pimps, managers of crime and drug pushers. What is being done in the area of hospital accommodation, particularly for female prisoners who seem to be particularly vulnerable in this regard?
This is a health matter and the Eastern Health Board has, in recent years, provided additional places. It is anticipated that treatment will be extended to 25 other locations. Over the last two years there has been a considerable improvement in the treatment of people who are addicted to illegal drugs.
The other point raised by Deputy Higgins is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform as regards the return of hardened addicts to crime. I recently received the report of Mrs. Justice Denham who I requested, with the Courts Commission to look into the question of drugs courts. The report recommended a planning programme be established to devise the measures needed to set up a drugs court, initially in the District Court. The report also recommended that drugs courts should only be used in circumstances where the offence is a relatively minor one of possession and where it is non-violent.
I hope to bring this important report before Government shortly. It will be a radical new departure if implemented. Such a programme has been successful in the United Stages. On the one hand, it vindicates the addict's right to bodily integrity and on the other helps to assist society in the fight against criminality.
In October 1997, the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Wallace, in reply to a question on this topic, indicated that the situation as regards female prisoners in Mountjoy was unsatisfactory. She said she hoped an interim solution to the problem would emerge. Has such an interim solution emerged in the meantime?
I outlined the present position in my reply to the question asked by Deputy Upton. The Deputy will be aware that the construction of a new women's prison is under way and is on target to be completed his year. Obviously this is the solution to the overcrowding problems which have implications in terms of treatment. I expect these places to be on stream later this year or early next year.
