Vol. 546 No. 5
8 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he intends to take to deal with the health crisis in prisons where recent research has shown hepatitis, HIV and drug abuse to be rife. [30918/01]
While I share concern expressed over many years about deficiencies in prison health care services, I do not accept there is a crisis, as alleged in the Deputy's question. I presume he is referring to a paper recently published in the British Medical Journal. The findings in the paper are not new and were published by my Department in 2000. Given the nature of the prison population, with many prisoners coming from a background of severe drug abuse, the figures presented are unsurprising. The figure of 2% HIV prevalence among our prison population is less than for similar groups in the general community and less than that in other jurisdictions with a similar drug problem.
Many decisive actions have been instigated to address deficiencies in prison health care services. I established a group to review the structure and organisation of prison health care services in November 1999. The group's report, which contained recommendations to improve many aspects of prison health care services, was published recently and implementation of the recommendations will require considerable negotiation and dialogue with other interests. I have directed the director general of the Irish Prisons Service to pursue this matter urgently. Other general health care developments have included the recruitment of qualified nurses in prisons and the appointment of a co-ordinator of prison nursing services.
I am determined to tackle the long-standing problem of drug abuse in prisons and I approved an action plan on drug misuse and drug treatment in the prison system in 1999. The plan advocated a broad approach to increase treatment for prisoners addicted to drugs and recommended the expansion of detoxification facilities and drug free areas and the provision of methadone maintenance. The director of the Prisons Service, at my instigation, established a national steering group for prison-based drug treatment services with a view to implementing the action plan. The group submitted its first report to me in July 2000, recommending the appointment of a drug treatment co-ordinator for the Dublin prisons, recruitment of drug treatment specialists in the counselling, psychological and medical fields and a training programme led by an assistant governor to enhance and make more professional prison officers involved in interpersonal work with drug treatment prisoners.
Additional InformationThe implementation of the report's recommendations was approved in principle by Government on 18 October 2000, on the basis that precise staffing and other expenditure related proposals would be negotiated between the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health and Children and Finance, the Prisons Service and health boards. There has since been a series of meetings, resulting from which the recruitment process for the two key central positions identified in the report, assistant governor in charge of training and co-ordinator of drug treatment services (prisons), commenced in mid-2001. The assistant governor post was filled on 20 October 2001 and I understand efforts are being made to fill the post of co-ordinator as soon as possible, although it is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority. Following consultation with the Department of Finance and the Irish Prisons Service, my Department has commenced the recruitment process for the nursing, psychologist and probation and welfare service posts recommended in the steering group's report. Discussions are continuing with the health boards about filling positions in their areas, as identified in the report.
The provision of methadone maintenance for new committal prisoners already on an approved community treatment course has been a key development in the past 18 months. On 25 November 2001, 261 prisoners were in receipt of methadone maintenance in the prison system and a further 57 were receiving methadone detoxification. Another important initiative has been the opening, in November 2000, of a designated drug free wing in St. Patrick's Institution with a capacity for 76 inmates. Building on this successful development, I have issued a direction to the Prisons Service to have a designated drug free area in all institutions under its control within a three year period. A designated drug free unit is due to open in Wheatfield Prison in the coming months and I announced recently that the new C Wing in Limerick Prison, with space for 78 pris oners will be designated as a drug free facility when it is inaugurated in 2003.
Arising from the Minister's reply, does he accept the statement that drug abuse is rife in prisons? If so, what steps does he propose to take to deal with the problem? Does he accept that hepatitis and HIV are prevalent in prisons? Can the Minister tell the House if people with such infections contracted them outside of prisons, or if some of them contracted a virus in prison? What research has been conducted by the Department of Health and Children on this matter?
A number of technical and policy measures have been introduced in recent years to tackle the problem of drugs in prisons. A number of technical and policy measures have been introduced in recent years to curtail the smuggling and use of illegal drugs in the prison system, including sophisticated video surveillance; improved visiting and search facilities, including facilities for strip-searching prisoners; increased vigilance by staff; and urine testing. Where visitors are found attempting to supply drugs to inmates the gardaí are called to the prison with a view to prosecuting the persons concerned. A number of such prosecutions take place each year and persons have served prison sentences in this respect.
The study shows a 2% prevalence of HIV among the prison population which is less than for similar groups in the general community. I do not have the research to which Deputy Gay Mitchell referred, but unfortunately there is no vaccine to prevent against hepatitis C. It is health care policy to refer prisoners with hepatitis C to specialist hospital clinics to enable an assessment of their condition and the planning of appropriate treatment. Any treatment recommended by an external specialist would be facilitated by the prison service.
We have sought to provide additional drug free places. We opened a new drug free unit at St. Patrick's Institution and we are trying to get to the stage within the prison system whereby the same treatment and facilities will be available to prisoners as to those outside the prison structure.
What independent, external investigation or examination has taken place of the medical needs of prisoners?
Any prisoner who needs medical attention receives it within the confines of the prison from a medical officer.
