Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2017
71. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the mental health services that are provided to persons in prison; the details of efforts to monitor the mental health of prisoners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7832/17]
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, and the National Forensic Mental Health Service to provide forensic mental health sessions weekly in these prisons.
The Irish Prison Service, in partnership and collaboration with the Health Service Executive, provides specialist In-reach, Psychiatric services to those in custody in Limerick and Cork prisons. The Irish Prison Service has access to a limited number of places in the Central Mental Hospital for prisoners who require residential mental health treatment. There is currently an average of 20 prisoners each week awaiting transfer to the Central Mental Hospital.
The Irish Prison Service, in collaboration with the National Forensic Mental Health Service, 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 is delivered by the Health Service Executive/Central Mental Hospital 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.
The Health Service Executive has confirmed that approval has been granted for the appointment of a consultant led team to both Limerick and Cork prisons. The Health Service Executive has also advised that arrangements are being finalised for the assignment of a consultant led mental health in-reach team to Castlerea Prison. The National Forensic Mental Health Service 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. Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists are leading these services and can be supported by Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors, Community Psychiatric Nurses, and Social Workers.
