Pat Upton
Ceist:34 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice the facilities and services available for female prisoners who are addicted to drugs and are held in Mountjoy Prison.
Ceisteanna — Questions Written Answers. - Prison Facilities.
Any man or woman committed to custody who displays symptoms of drug addiction is promptly assessed medically and, where appropriate, is placed by the prison doctor on a detoxification programme. All drug dependant prisoners can also avail of a full range of medical, psychiatric, psychological and welfare services within the prison and they may be admitted to hospital or attend as out-patients as required. Two women medical doctors attend the women's prison on alternative days. A psychologist and a psychiatrist attend the prison on a regular basis and are on call as required. A number of community-based agencies involved with drug addiction problems regularly visit the prison to counsel prisoners. Where such prisoners show the necessary commitment to rehabilitation and do not appear to pose a threat to the community, they are considered for release at an appropriate stage of sentence to enable them to attend community-based drug treatment centres.
I readily acknowledge that a high proportion of women offenders would not have offended but for a serious drug dependancy problem. Every effort is made by the prison staff and all the professional support services associated with the women's prison in Mountjoy to help wean women inmates off the drugs lifestyle.