Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
797. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the plans that are in place to address the long waiting list for persons in prison to access addiction services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35748/23]
View answerThe Irish Prison Service provides a health care service for people with addictions in a structured, safe and professional basis in line with international best practice. The Prison Service continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations.
I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service engages Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) to provide a prison-based addiction counselling service across the entire Irish Prison Service estate with the exception of Arbour Hill Prison where there is currently no clinical need for such a service. The addiction counselling service includes structured assessments and evidence-based counselling interventions, with clearly defined treatment plans and goals.
The MQI service provides a range of counselling and intervention skills related to substance misuse and dependency. These skills include, motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy, a twelve step facilitation programme, cognitive behavioural therapy and harm reduction approaches. Prisoners are offered one to one counselling and group work interventions. The service also responds to prisoners in crisis, providing brief emergency interventions when required.
In the larger prisons the average waiting period can be up to twelve weeks. However, the Irish Prison Service and MQI always prioritise those that are in greatest clinical need. If there are concerns raised following a medical assessment a individual is prioritised and will be seen as soon as possible. In addition, where waiting lists are high and facilities are available, MQI offers group counselling as an alternative to one-to-one to give access to as many people as possible. MQI also operate a phone-line which is available between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Prisoners can access counsellors over the phone as necessary and can also make appointments and follow up on issues of concern. This phone line receives an average of 106 calls per week. Furthermore those who are closer to release are prioritised and MQI will identify available services in the community in order that there is continuity of care.
MQI work closely as part of a multi-disciplinary team to manage the waiting list and MQI team leaders review caseloads with each counsellor monthly to ensure that cases are closing appropriately.
Finally, the Irish Prison Service in consultation with MQI have committed to actively seeking to increase the number of prison-based counselling staff in the coming years.
