Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Prison Medical Service.

Bernard Allen

Question:

786 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce full-time prison doctors trained to deal with psychiatric and drug problems as recommended in the new report on the general health of prisoners. [24097/00]

Dan Neville

Question:

794 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the investigation of the efficiency of the health services in prisons; the person who is completing this examination; and their terms of reference in this regard. [24367/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 786 and 794 together.

The report referred to is the report on the general health care study of the Irish prisoner population which was undertaken by the National University of Ireland, Galway, and published last August.

This report will help to inform the development of policy on the prison medical services and will be considered by the group to review the structure and organisation of Prisons Health Care Services. The terms of reference of this group, which I established in November 1999, includes: to consider and make recommendations regarding the structure and organisation of primary medical and nursing services within the prison environment in light of the development of health care services generally and the needs of the prison population; to consider and make recommendations regarding the provision of psychiatric services to prisoners, taking into account changes in service provision generally and the potential ramification of possible new mental health legislation; to consider the appropriate need and level of in-house provision of specialist medical services and make recommendations accordingly; to consider structures for the legal and professionally appropriate control of pharmaceutical products within the prison system; to consider the present organisation of prison dental services and make any appropriate recommendations; and to consult with all relevant professional and representative bodies in this connection.
The review body is under the chairmanship of Mr John Olden, Second Vice-President of the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment of Persons in Custody, and former Secretary of Roinn na Gaeltachta.
The membership of the review group consists of representatives of: Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Department of Health and Children; Department of Finance; Director of Prison Medical Services; a senior prison governor; a nominee of the Irish College of General Practitioners; a nominee of the Royal College of Psychiatry; a nominee of An Bord Altranais; a nominee of the Pharmaceutical Society; and a nominee of the Irish Dental Council. As the review is still ongoing, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment on the group's work at this time. I expect to have a report from the group by summer 2001. It is my intention that this report will be published as soon as possible.
In the meantime, I have appointed a full-time doctor to the new prison at Cloverhill in Clondalkin, and propose to do so in the Midlands Prison in the near future. I have also recently obtained Government approval to proceed with a strategy to address the drug problem in partnership with the health authorities. This will entail the appointment of doctors, nurses, psychologists and addiction counsellors as well as the training of prison officers. Already 49 nurses have been appointed to the prison service, which includes 16 in the remand prison at Cloverhill.
Top
Share