Vol. 491 No. 2
142 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the situation regarding the problem of prisoners using drugs while in prison; the prisons, if any, where this activity is taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11588/98]
The abuse of drugs within the prison system is largely confined to Mountjoy prison. As the State's main committal prison, Mountjoy has a large daily throughput of prisoners, many of whom have long histories of drug abuse which they try to maintain while in custody. Most of the other prison institutions are drug free.
A number of measures have been introduced in recent years to curtail the smuggling in and use of illegal drugs in the prisons. These include video surveillance, improved visiting and searching facilities, increased vigilance by staff and urine testing. It is my intention to continue efforts to reduce the level of drug abuse in the prison system.
Efforts to eliminate the supply of drugs coming into our prisons are not enough on their own. The education, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicted offenders is important and to this end there are specially designed information programmes addressing the risks associated with the misuse of drugs in place in all of our prisons.
Extensive treatment facilities are in place in Mountjoy Prison to address the drug abuse problem there. The drug treatment facility in Mountjoy has been in operation there for two years at the prison's health care unit. This facility provides chemical detoxification and a therapy programme. This unit is the first of its kind in a prison environment in this State and it is modelled on similar hospital based units in the community. My Department is currently examining the feasibility of further expanding the range of treatment options available to prisoners.
