Tony Gregory
Ceist:120 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice the steps, if any, she has taken to ensure that where a drug user undergoing treatment is sent to prison that this person continues to receive the necessary treatment.
Written Answers. - Treatment for Imprisoned Drug User.
I am examining as a matter of urgency the possibility of continuing in prisons community-based methadone treatment programmes for drug addicts.
Consultations have been underway between senior staff in my Department and the agencies involved in delivering this treatment in the community with a view to identifying how it might be continued in prison. We are also looking at practices followed in other European countries in this particular area which have proved quite successful both in improving health care for addicts and in reducing crime. At this stage I can see no reason these practices could not be adapted successfully to our requirements with the help and co-operation of community-based agencies involved. I will make a further statement on the matter when my examination is completed.