Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2016
45. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the services which are provided to persons with a mental illness while in prison; the personnel who provide the services and their qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29827/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that in-reach mental health services are available in the Dublin and Portlaoise prisons, and Castlerea prison, through collaboration with the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) to provide forensic mental health sessions weekly in these prisons.
The Irish Prison Service, in partnership and collaboration with the HSE, provides Specialist In-reach, Consultant led Psychiatric services to those in custody in Limerick and Cork prisons. The HSE has confirmed that approval has been granted for the appointment of a consultant led team to both Limerick and Cork prisons. The HSE has also advised that arrangements are being finalised for the assignment of a consultant led mental health in-reach team to Castlerea Prison. The NFMHS also provides an assessment and liaison service for all other prisons where a prisoner requires a forensic assessment, or access to an admission bed in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists are leading these services and, in many settings, are supported by Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors, Community Psychiatric Nurses, and Social Workers.
The Irish Prison Service has access to a limited number of places in the CMH for prisoners who require residential mental health treatment. There is currently an average of 20 prisoners each week awaiting transfer to the CMH.
The Irish Prison Service, in collaboration with the NFMHS, has established two dedicated areas where high support is provided to vulnerable prisoners with mental illness; D2 wing in Cloverhill Prison (for remand prisoners), and the High Support Unit in Mountjoy (for sentenced prisoners). Both units provide a dedicated area within the prison where mentally ill and vulnerable prisoners, who present with a risk of harm to self or to others, can be separated from the general prison population and are closely monitored in a safer environment.
A Psychiatric In-reach and Court Liaison Service (PICLS) is delivered by the HSE/CMH at Cloverhill Prison. The diversion system ensures as far as possible that those people presenting before the courts, or indeed at an earlier stage of the criminal justice system, where the infraction is a reflection of an underlying mental illness, are referred and treated appropriately. This approach has reduced the number of mentally ill people committed to prison.
