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Drugs in Prisons.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005

Wednesday, 26 January 2005

Questions (712)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

774 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the estimated initial and annual costs of mandatory drug testing in prisons; the type of testing kits to be used; the prison staff that will be responsible for administering the tests; the company providing the testing kits; and the penalties to be imposed for a positive test. [1665/05]

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Written answers

As envisaged in the Programme for Government, the introduction of mandatory drug testing will be central to supporting future policy on drug supply and demand reduction in prisons. Already prisoners accommodated in the open centres at Shelton Abbey and Loughan House and in the designated drug free areas of the training unit in the Mountjoy Complex, St. Patrick's Institution and Wheatfield Prison are required to undergo frequent drug tests to confirm their drug-free status. Mandatory drug testing will, however, operate across the whole prison system. Provision for mandatory drug testing, and the penalties that may be imposed arising from a ‘positive' test, will be made in the proposed new prison rules, which are at an advanced stage of preparation. Precise costings, staff responsibilities and procedures in relation to mandatory drug testing will be determined on finalisation of the new prison rules.

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