Vol. 468 No. 1
175 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice the progress, if any, that has been made on the implementation of the 53 recommendations in the official prison policy entitled Management of Offenders - A Five Year Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14692/96]
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.
Details of the recommendations implemented are as follows:
|
Recommendation Number |
Recommendation |
Current Situation |
|
1 |
Provision of additional prison places |
A series of measures to combat crime was 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 |
|
2 |
Refurbishment works in existing prisons |
Design work commenced on provision of staff locker facilities and a maintenance workshop at Mountjoy and the provision of enhanced education facilities at Limerick Prison |
|
3 and 7 |
Recruitment of 53 additional Probation and Welfare Staff |
Department of Finance sanction recently for limited (6) additional probation and welfare officers |
|
5 |
The undertaking and planning for the implementation of the European Rules on Community Sanctions and Measures and the examination of the scope for the extension of such sanctions and measures |
Ongoing |
|
6 |
Setting up of Positive Sentence Management Committees in each Institution |
In place |
|
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 |
|
14 |
Negotiations of the recruitment of qualified nurses into the Prison Service |
Contract nurses will be part of the new drug treatment unit in Mountjoy. Negotiation with the P.O.A. on the recruitment of qualified nursing staff into various prisons are progressing |
|
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 about the prison Pharmacist |
Completed. No implementation of recommendations yet |
|
18 |
Conclusion of assessment of the case for an X-Ray facility in Mountjoy Prison |
Done |
|
19 |
Examination of the possibility of introducing limited medical specialist services in prisons |
Ongoing |
|
20 |
Examination of the possibility of providing medical care units in other prisons besides Mountjoy |
Talks continuing with the relevant Health Boards |
|
23 |
Maximum emphasis on quality education and priority for additional classroom space |
Major investments have taken place or been approved in this respect since publication of the Plan, including additional space in Fort Mitchel and Portlaoise Prisons |
|
25 |
Continuous review of educational curricula with special emphasis on those who are particularly (educationally) disadvantaged |
Ongoing |
|
27 |
Provision of education complementary to the work of other services for offenders with special problems |
New programme for sex offenders in Arbour Hill Prison being developed |
|
29 |
Greater recourse to educational accreditation |
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 prisons environment has been carried out. A female psychologist has been provided for female offenders. Sex offender treatment programme is ongoing |
|
38 |
Involvement of Chaplains in Positive Sentence Management |
In place |
|
41 |
Completion of steps necessary to implement new Treatment Programme for Sex Offenders |
In place and a new programme involving teachers and discipline staff is being finalised (see 27 above) |
|
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 in 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 |
|
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 |
|
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 which involved 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 Officers Association |
|
50 |
Exploration of new ways of providing cost effective prison staff training |
In progress. I have circulated a draft training strategy to the POA 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 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 Women's Prison and the main prison at Castlerea |
