Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 2

Written Answers. - Mountjoy Prison Report.

Austin Deasy

Question:

20 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he proposes to take in view of the recent Mountjoy Jail visiting committee report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11396/98]

Austin Currie

Question:

32 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he proposes to take in view of the recent Mountjoy Jail visiting committee report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11400/98]

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

49 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he proposes to take in view of the recent Mountjoy Jail visiting committee report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11398/98]

Michael D'Arcy

Question:

81 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he proposes to take in view of the recent Mountjoy Jail visiting committee report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11395/98]

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

82 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he proposes to take in view of the recent Mountjoy Jail visiting committee report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11397/98]

John Gormley

Question:

83 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the issues raised in the most recent report of the Mountjoy Prison visiting committee. [11535/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 32, 49, 81, 82 and 83 together.

The 1997 report of the Mountjoy Prison Visiting Committee was received by me on Friday, 1 May 1998. I intend to make the report public in the usual way after I have fully examined the contents.

From my initial examination of the report it would appear that none of the issues raised are new and include overcrowding, poor conditions, drug abuse, medical and psychiatric services, etc. Deputies will be aware that the major issues of overcrowding and inadequate prison conditions are being addressed not only by way of extensive building and refurbishment programmes but also in terms of the ongoing development of alternatives to custody in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. I have commented extensively elsewhere on the drug problem in the prison and on efforts to deal with it by reducing both the demand and the supply. I accept that much work remains to be done in this area.

It is important to provide health care to offenders of an equivalent standard to that available in the general community. The new doctor's contract has been accepted by all but three prison medical officers. This will improve primary medical care and the proposed service agreement with the Eastern Health Board, which will lead to the assignment of a number of dedicated psychiatrists, should lead to an improvement in the level of treatment within the prison service to those inmates who suffer from psychiatric disorders or mental illness.