Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 1

Written Answers. - Prison Rehabilitation Programme.

Jack Wall

Question:

79 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sex offenders serving custodial sentences; their location; the number of rehabilitation places available in each prison; his views on the adequacy of this provision; and the plans, if any, he has to expand these services. [19739/99]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

98 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of sex offenders in prisons on waiting lists for treatment; the number in receipt of treatment; the steps, if any, being taken to provide additional places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19722/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 98 together.

There are ten offenders undergoing the dedicated group sex offender treatment programme in Arbour Hill Prison. At present there are 25 offenders on a waiting list for the Arbour Hill programme.

However, this number is not static and may rise or fall depending on the motivation of any individual offender at a particular time. Where the number of suitable applicants exceeds the number of places available on the programme, priority is given to offenders whose release dates are closest. All those who apply and who are deemed suitable for group treatment are accommodated prior to release.

In addition the probation and welfare service and the psychology service in my Department provide one to one counselling for offenders. The number of offenders undergoing one to one counselling is difficult to define because of the varied nature of individual counselling provided for sex offenders in prison. Such counselling can vary from one session addressing a particular problem to intensive ongoing counselling.

There were 341 convicted sex offenders in custody in Irish prisons on Thursday, 7 October. They were housed in the following institutions:

Institution	Number of Convicted Sex Offenders
Mountjoy	7
Wheatfield	81
Curragh	92
Limerick	14
Castlerea	51
Cork	17
Arbour Hill	79
Total	341

It is not possible to quantify the number of rehabilitation places in each institution. All prisoners are involved in a rehabilitation programme of one type or another.

Since coming to office I have made it a priority to enhance the treatment options available to all prisoners, including sex offenders. To this end I approved the establishment of an expert group on the probation and welfare service in November 1997 and a group on the psychology service in December 1998 to examine and report on the future needs, structure and organisation of both services. The final report of the expert group on the probation and welfare service was published recently and the report of the group examining the psychology service is under consideration at present and should be published in the near future.

Both of these services are recruiting extra staff at present. This will enhance the range of one to one counselling available to offenders. In addition, it is intended that the Curragh place of detention will have priority in the allocation of resources to enable the introduction of a dedicated sex offender treatment programme in the prison, similar to the programme which has been operating successfully in Arbour Hill for a number of years. I must point out, however, that the absence of generic psychological services in the Curragh Prison will, in all likelihood, delay the establishment of a full programme until next year.

I have instructed the newly appointed director general of the Irish prison service that the treatment of sex offenders throughout the prison system is to be given priority attention. In the meantime, all convicted sex offenders, regardless of the institution in which they are housed, are invited to take part in the programme in Arbour Hill.