Written Answers. - Drugs in Prisons.
Michael Bell
Question:
84
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the specific new measures proposed to deal with the drugs problem in prisons; when the promised new position of director of treatment services will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14996/01]
Both the Prisons Service and my Department are resolutely committed to tackling the problem of drug abuse in the Prison System in a comprehensive way. In addition to the introduction of measures to eliminate the supply of drugs coming into our prisons, the prisons service will continue to seek to reduce demand for drugs within the prison system by the education, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicted offenders.
The action plan on drug misuse and drug treatment in the prison system which I approved in 1999 advocated a broad general approach to raise the level of treatment for drug addicted offenders. This included the expansion of detoxification facilities, more drug free areas and the provision of methadone maintenance. The provision of addiction counselling support services was central to this recommended approach which built on a medical policy which had been agreed between my Department and the then Eastern Health Board in this area. It sought 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 then 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 its first report to myself in July 2000, and the report was circulated to various organisations for views and feedback. This report recommended the following three pronged strategy: the appointment of a drug treatment co-ordinator for the Dublin prisons; the recruitment of drug treatment specialists in the counselling, psychological and medical fields; a training programme led by an assistant governor to enhance and further professionalise prison officers involved in interpersonal work with drug treatment prisoners.
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, Department of Health and Children and the Prisons Service and health boards.
Following these discussions, the position of co-ordinator of drug treatment services, prisons, identified in the steering group's report, was advertised recently by the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The co-ordinator's responsibilities will include the co-ordination and management of the delivery of drug treatment services in prisons located in the Eastern Regional Health Authority as well as promoting best practice on throughcare in respect of drug dependent persons entering and leaving those institutions. While the filling of this position is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority, I understand that this process is now at interview stage and that every attempt will be made to fill the post at the earliest possible opportunity.
I would also like to inform the Deputy that, following consultation with the Department of Finance, I expect the Prisons Service and the health boards to be very shortly in a position to commence the recruitment process for the other drug treatment posts recommended in the steering group's first report.
