Vol. 491 No. 2
21 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of inmates in Mountjoy Jail psychiatrically assessed; the number diagnosed as having psychiatric problems; the number recovering with psychiatric treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11394/98]
35 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the views expressed by a consultant psychiatrist at the National Crime Forum that up to 10 per cent of prisoners in Mountjoy suffer psychiatric illness and should not be in jail; his views on these figures; the steps, if any, he intends to take to provide adequate psychiatric care for these prisoners and, in particular, the steps he intends to take to ensure that there is not a repeat of the situation of March 1998 where a woman in need of psychiatric care was held in a padded cell for 19 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11363/98]
37 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of inmates in Mountjoy Jail psychiatrically assessed; the number diagnosed as having psychiatric problems; the number recovering with psychiatric treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11393/98]
75 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of inmates in Mountjoy Jail psychiatrically assessed; the number diagnosed as having psychiatric problems; the number recovering with psychiatric treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11391/98]
87 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of inmates in Mountjoy Jail psychiatrically assessed; the number diagnosed as having psychiatric problems; the number recovering with psychiatric treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11392/98]
94 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of inmates in Mountjoy Jail psychiatrically assessed; the number diagnosed as having psychiatric problems; the number recovering with psychiatric treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11390/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 35, 37, 75, 87 and 94 together.
The decision as to whether a prisoner is in need of treatment for a psychiatric disorder is a matter for the medical personnel in our penal institutions. Such a decision can only be taken following medical assessment and diagnosis.
In the year April 1997 to April 1998, 705 prisoners were referred to visiting psychiatrists by prison medical officers. Without an examination of each individual case it is not possible to say what treatment, if any, was subsequently recommended or provided. Prisoners are referred to a visiting psychiatrist for a variety of reasons, including particular situational difficulties and, it should be noted, the numbers of prisoners referred do not necessarily correlate to actual levels of psychiatric illness.
I do not share the view expressed to the National Crime Forum that up to 10 per cent of prisoners in Mountjoy suffer from a psychiatric illness. Published research indicates that, at most, 5 per cent of committals to Mountjoy Prison had a history of major mental illness and I am advised by the Director of Prison Medical Services that, while these individuals might have had a history of mental illness, it is not necessarily the case that all of them would have required hospital care.
While adequate psychiatric treatment is available within the prison system there is still room for improvement. To this end, my Department has, for some time, been involved in negotiations with the Eastern Health Board and the Department of Health and Children with a view to improving the organisation and quantity of psychiatric input to the various institutions through the implementation of a service agreement and the assignment of a number of dedicated psychiatrists to work in the prisons area. It has been agreed by all parties involved that this is the most appropriate approach to addressing the present difficulties and I hope that the proposed arrangements can be put in place in the near future. In addition, I understand that the utilisation of beds in the Central Mental Hospital and their availability to prisoners, for whom it is not possible to provide appropriate care within prison, is currently under review. This should lead to greater access to the hospital for those prisoners who require treatment in that setting.
