Vol. 467 No. 7
281 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice if she will give specific details of the recommendations implemented since June 1994 in Mountjoy Prison on foot of the five year Management of Offenders Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14310/96]
The five year plan for the management of offenders contained 53 recommendations of which 36 have been, or are in the process of being implemented. Most of these recommendations, such as the introduction of new prison rules, are not specific to any one institution but refer to initiatives for the entire prison service. Other recommendations, such as those in relation to community sanctions and measures, would not be relevant to Mountjoy Prison.
|
Recommendation Number |
Recommendation |
Current Situation |
|
2 |
Refurbishment works in existing prisons |
Design work commenced on provision of staff locker facilities and a maintenance workshop in Mountjoy |
|
6 |
Setting up of Positive Sentence Management Committees in each Institution |
In place |
|
14 |
Negotiation of the recruitment of qualified nurses into the Prison Service |
Contract nurses will be part of the new drug treatment unit in Mountjoy |
|
18 |
Conclusion of assessment of the case for an X-Ray facility in Mountjoy Prison |
Done |
|
38 |
Involvement of Chaplains in Positive Sentence Management |
In place |
|
45 |
Pressing ahead with study by Steering Committee on how best to manage the drug problem in prisons, including expanded methadone maintenance and drug-free units. |
Major progress in both preventing ingress of drugs into prisons and in providing up-to-date treatment facilities for drug-dependent prisoners including a drug-free unit, improved detoxification facilities and an integrated therapy programme for addicts. |
|
Recommendation Number |
Recommendation |
Current Situation |
|
1 |
Provision of additional prison places |
A series of measures to combat crime were announced in January, 1996 including the provision of an additional 278 prison places within 18 months and the recommencement of work in connection with the building of a new Women's Prison at Mountjoy |
|
8 |
Introduction of new Prison Rules |
Draft new Rules being discussed with Attorney General |
|
9 |
Introduction of new Disciplinary Code for staff |
New code agreed at Departmental Council will come into effect on 1 October, 1996. Necessary Statutory Instrument is being put to Government for approval in July |
|
10 |
The conferring on Visiting Committees of a power of appeal against disciplinary sanctions imposed by Governors on offenders, allied to the removal from Visiting Committees of the power to impose such sanctions |
In preparation |
|
11 |
Formation of a Visiting Committee Chairpersons group |
I have met the Chairpersons to discuss this proposal and will be convening the first meeting of the group later this year |
|
13 |
Negotiations of a new contract with prison doctors |
Negotiations at an advanced stage |
|
15 |
Arrangements to restructure psychiatric input for offenders |
Ongoing |
|
16 |
Completion of negotiations for additional psychiatric hospital bed places for offenders |
Ongoing |
|
17 |
Completion of examination of recommendations made to the prison Pharmacist |
Completed. No implementation of recommendations yet |
|
19 |
Examination of the possibility of introducing limited medical specialist services in prisons |
Ongoing |
|
25 |
Continuous review of educational curricula with special emphasis on those who are particularly (educationally) disadvantaged |
Ongoing |
|
29 |
Greater recourse to educational accredition |
Ongoing |
|
36 |
Giving prominent role to the Psychology Service in developing specialised counselling services |
The Psychology Service is involved in the committee on the treatment of drug offenders and a major literature review of the treatment of drug offenders in prison environments has been carried out. A female psychologist has been provided for female offenders |
|
43 |
Implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Prison Deaths |
52 of the 57 recommendations now in place, the latest initiative being the establishment of a National Steering Group on Suicide Awareness in the various institutions |
|
44 |
Implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases in prisons |
Majority of the recommendations implemented including major recommendation to desegregate HIV positive prisoners |
|
46 |
Setting up a new Offender Management Advisory Committee and carrying out independent assessments of its effectiveness during the period of the Plan |
New structures in relation to offender management and other key related issues involving Governors and Senior Department staff have been set up. It is intended to expand their membership in due course to embrace other relevant disciplines |
|
47 |
Devolving a greater level of management responsibility on Prison Governors |
This has been taking place on a gradual incremental basis and is the subject of ongoing dialogue with the Governors |
|
48 |
Reviewing requirements for entry to the Prison Service to ensure the widest possible pool of candidates |
Done |
|
49 |
Continuous review of mixed male-female staffing |
Being done in consultation with the Prison Officer Association |
|
50 |
Exploration of new ways of providing cost effective prison staff training |
In progress. I have circulated a draft training strategy to the P.O.A. for discussion |
|
51 and 52 |
Specific study of cost effective use and deployment of staff |
I will be making an announcement shortly of a review of prison operating costs including an independent study |
|
Examination of means to reduce the level of overtime working |
||
|
53 |
Keeping staff levels and overtime working in new institutions to the absolute minimum |
This is a priority which is being reflected in the finalising of arrangements for staffing in the Curragh and the 25-person Unit at Castlerea and will be reflected in all future new institutions including the new Women's Prison and the main prison at Castlerea |
