Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016
115. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the suicide prevention training available to prison staff; and the percentage of prison staff who have taken this training up. [39847/16]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Prison Service that it developed an updated Mental Health Awareness Programme for staff in 2014. The development of this programme was overseen, and approved, by the Mental Health Training Oversight Group, comprising representatives of the healthcare, psychiatry, psychology services, staff support services and the Irish Prison Service College. The programme provides training on all aspects of mental health, including suicide prevention training.
This programme is currently being delivered to all prison staff, and to date 665 staff have been trained. This Programme is also being delivered to all Recruit Prison officers as part of their mandatory training schedule.
