Vol. 519 No. 2
227 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will take responsibility for the prison health services, as recommended by the Irish Prison Doctors Association, in view of recent suicides which has highlighted key problems in the prison health services. [13606/00]
A review of the structure and organisation of prison health care services is currently being undertaken by an expert group established by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. My Department, which is represented on the group, is anxious to co-operate with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the reorganisation of psychiatric services for prisoners through the provision of a properly structured forensic psychiatric service. The initiatives taken by my Department in 1999 and in the current year, through the provision of additional funding for consultant led forensic psychiatric teams, are an indication of our commitment to this process.
My Department approved the appointment of an additional consultant forensic psychiatrist in the eastern region in 1999. The holder of this post has a sessional commitment to the prison service in the Dublin area. Funding has been provided in 2000 for a further four consultant forensic psychiatric teams, two to be based in Dublin and one each in Cork and Limerick.
