Jack Wall
Question:165 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons in custody in receipt of drug treatment at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9188/01]
Written Answers. - Prison Drug Treatment Services.
I am informed that in regard to medical treatment for drug addiction, there were 250 prisoners in receipt of methadone maintenance and a further 56 prisoners in receipt of detoxification on 27 March 2001. The number of prisoners currently on methadone maintenance has increased by 36% on the figures of 6 December 2000. These figures indicate both my own and the prisons service's commitment to delivering a prison-based drug treatment service which is equivalent to that available in the community.
I would like to lay out the numerous steps that I have put in place to try and combat the drug addiction problem among the prison population.
For example: all committals to Mountjoy and St. Patrick's who misuse drugs are offered a 14 day detoxification programme; all committals to Cloverhill Remand Prison who misuse drugs are offered a 21 day detoxification programme, or less depending on their remand period; all committals to Cloverhill Remand Prison who are involved in a drug maintenance programme in the community prior to committal are allowed continue their programmes while in custody there – this development was extended to Mountjoy Prison in October, 2000, with all new committals and prisoners transferring from Cloverhill Remand Prison who were on approved treatment programmes continuing to receive this while in the prison; on-going addiction counselling and education programmes; community-based agencies visit prisons to provide support services and information, including individual counselling as required; an information forum is provided by the education-welfare services to prisoners informing them of the risks posed by communicable diseases; a detoxification and drug-free unit is in operation in Mountjoy and an intensive drug free therapy programme co-ordinated by the Probation and Welfare Service and delivered by a multi-disciplinary team is in place; a second drug treatment programme began at the health care unit in Mountjoy in March 2000. This offers detoxification and intensive therapeutic counselling over 12 weeks to prisoners nearing release, with a view to returning them drug-free onto a structured drug treatment programme in the community; a new drug-free wing in St. Patrick's Institution with a capacity for 76 inmates was officially opened on 22 November 2000. An initial group of 24 staff underwent developmental training to assist them in working with the new regime. This development has proven to be very successful with the wing currently operating to full capacity.
The action plan on drug misuse and drug treatment in the prison system which I approved in 1999 provides a detailed strategy to raise the level of treatment for drug addicted offenders. This includes the expansion of detoxification facilities, more drug free areas and the provision of methadone maintenance. The provision of addiction counselling support services is central to the plan. The plan builds on a medical policy which has been agreed between my Department and the then Eastern Health Board in that it seeks to provide the same access to treatment for prisoners as patients have within the community.
At my request, the director general of the prisons service established a national steering group for prison-based drug treatment services with a view to implementing the action plan. The steering group comprises representatives from this Department, the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Senior Prisons Service Management, Probation and Welfare Service, Prisons Psychology Service and the Prison Education Service. The group submitted their first report to me in July 2000 and the report was circulated to various organisations for views and feedback. The implementation of the recommendations contained in the report were approved, in principle, by the Government on 18 October 2000, on the basis that the precise staffing – and other expenditure-related proposals would be the subject of direct negotiations between the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health and Children and Finance, as well as the Prisons Service and health boards. A series of meetings have been held since November 2000 between the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Health and Children and the Prisons Service and health boards. Following these discussions, I understand that the position of co-ordinator of drug treatment services (prisons) identified in the steering group is due to be advertised shortly by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and that discussions will begin in the near future with the Department of Finance in regard to the other posts proposed.