Vol. 464 No. 8
65 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice the reason a letter concerning the need for Garda liaison with pharmacists (details supplied) was not replied to by her Department; her response to the further proposal for a chief 1 pharmacist to develop pharmacy services in Mountjoy Prison; if she accepts the view that her Department's current proposal for a temporary part-time pharmacist is not adequate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9000/96]
The letter from the person in question was received on 16 October 1995 and referred to the Garda authorities for their attention. The contents of the letter were taken into account by the Garda as part of their ongoing review and monitoring of the local situation. A full report in the matter has been received and my Department will be writing to the person concerned shortly. The person did get an acknowledgment and of course it was always the intention to follow this up once detailed Garda observations were received.
My Department is at present assessing the pharmacy needs at Mountjoy Prison. The proposal for a temporary part-time pharmacist arose specifically in the context of the needs of the proposed detoxification unit which is being set up in the prison to provide structured detoxification for drug addicts. In relation to the pharmacy needs of the prison as a whole, my Department has been assessing whether it would be feasible to set up an arrangement for a local pharmacist to supply pharmacy services to the prison. I am now advised that this would not be a satisfactory solution and I am now examining other options.
