16 Jul 2012, 17:09
A delegation from the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will travel to Wheatfield Prison tomorrow afternoon 17 July to view first-hand the Samaritans’ Listener Scheme.
The Samaritans select, train and support certain prisoners who listen in complete confidence to fellow prisoners, who may be experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that may lead to suicide. Samaritans’ Listeners in prisons had approximately 600 calls from their fellow inmates over the past 12 months, an increase of 20 per cent on the previous reporting period.
Committee Chairman David Stanton, TD, said: “The Samaritans have an established and well regarded association with prison support work, most notably in the form of its Listener Scheme. The Listener Scheme is now ten years old, and has contributed to a more humane experience for prisoners across the country, undoubtedly saving many lives along the way.”
“A delegation of our Committee looks forward to exploring this valuable service on site at Wheatfield tomorrow, including meeting with some of the Listeners and Samaritans trainers.”
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: 087 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Dara Calleary, Michael Creed, Alan Farrell, Anne Ferris (Vice-Chairman), john Paul Phelan, Seán Kenny, Finian McGrath, Jonathan O’Brien and David Stanton (Chairman)
Senators:
Ivana Bacik, Paul Bradford, Martin Conway, Rónán Mullen, Denis O’Donovan, Katherine Zappone.