Vol. 486 No. 2
59 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of Justice in relation to concerns about inadequate drug treatment services in prisons and the lack of continuity for those prisoners who were on treatment programmes prior to entering prison; and the proposals, if any, for addressing this major gap in drug treatment services. [2140/98]
The provision of services for drug misusers in prison is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the first instance. At present the Eastern Health Board's consultant psychiatrists with responsibility for drug misuse provide sessions in Mountjoy prison. These consultants have been in discussion with officials of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, including the director of prison medical services and the governor of Mountjoy prison, with a view to extending and improving the drug treatment services provided to prisoners including, where appropriate, methadone maintenance.
I understand, however, that concrete developments in this regard have been hampered by ongoing overcrowding in the prison. A special treatment programme is provided to prisoners who are HIV positive or who have AIDS. A drug-free unit was also introduced into the prison in June 1996.
