Prison Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024

Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Questions (445, 446)

Patrick Costello

Question:

445. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she will ensure other addiction counsellors are sourced as a matter of urgency for the prison service; her views on the situation whereby in Mountjoy Prison there is currently only two addiction/MQI counsellors for the entire prison, given by her own admission (details supplied) 70% of the population have addiction issues in a prison of approximately 800 prisons; and her views on whether two addiction councillors for 550+ prisoners with addiction issues is an adequate number for provision of services. [17690/24]

Patrick Costello

Question:

446. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 377 of 10 October 2023, if seven out of every ten prisoners have addiction issues, the reason millions are being spent on hundreds of new places in prison, when the money could be better spent addressing the root cause of incarceration for many of the existing populations, i.e. addiction, which would entail hiring more addiction counsellors. [17697/24]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together.

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to provide the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand. 

Question No. 446 answered with Question No. 445.