Vol. 542 No. 2
339 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the contents of the latest annual report of the Inspector for Mental Hospitals that physical and civil rights issues, arising from the transfer of remand individuals to facilities such as its Central Mental Hospital, has raised serious questions. [24294/01]
A prisoner who, in the opinion of the prison medical officer, is suffering from a psychiatric condition for which he or she cannot be afforded appropriate treatment within the institution, may be transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. Such transfers may be on a voluntary basis – under section 17 of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, as adapted – or the prisoner may be certified to be of unsound mind, by two doctors, and may be transferred on foot of an order made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
I am committed to the development of a national forensic psychiatric service to meet the needs of prisoners suffering from mental illness. In this regard, funding of £1.550 million – 1.968 million – has been made available since 1999 for the appointment of an additional five consultant forensic psychiatrists. Three of these posts are attached to the Central Mental Hospital. One consultant is in place and the other two will be recruited shortly. The remaining posts, in the Mid-Western and Southern Health Board areas respectively, will be put in place next year. The further development of the national forensic service will include arrangements for the diversion of mentally ill persons before the courts to appropriate mental health facilities, thus reducing the requirement to transfer remand prisoners to facilities such as the Central Mental Hospital.
