Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
68. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of qualified and accredited psychotherapists and psychiatrists working within, or attached to, the prison system, currently, and in each of the past five years, in tabular form; the number of prisoners attending same over the same period; and the number of prisoners deemed to have a mental and or psychological illness currently and in the same retrospective period. [54636/23]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to be aware that the number of qualified and accredited psychotherapists and psychiatrists working within, or attached to, the prison system is not under Mental Health, including HSE Mental Health. The question primarily relates to relevant Irish Prison Service (IPS) staff/employees, and potentially is wider than mental health eg Primary Care provision within prisons, attendance figures sought for prisoners etc. The Department of Health does not have primary responsibility for prisoners which is under the remit of the Irish Prison Service. Accordingly the nature of the PQ falls under the remit of the Department of Justice and should be tabled for the Minister for Justice to answer.
