Vol. 489 No. 2
123 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures, if any, he has taken to ensure that there is sufficient provision to keep women in need of psychiatric care at the Central Mental Hospital so that they are not incarcerated in Mountjoy Prison ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7789/98]
The provision of services at the Central Mental Hospital is a matter for the Eastern Health Board in the first instance. I understand that the board has six beds in the Central Mental Hospital dedicated to female prison transfers. Until the last six to 12 months, these beds satisfied needs arising most of the time. However, there have been occasions, particularly during this period, when the Central Mental Hospital has not had the capacity to meet the needs of Mountjoy Prison. An additional bed has now been provided at the hospital to cater for the demand over the last six to 12 months for female beds. The board expects that this new accommodation will ease the situation.
My Department is currently in discussion with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Eastern Health Board for the purposes of improving the psychiatric services provided to prisoners. Arising from these discussions, measures are being taken to enhance the consultant forensic psychiatrist input to Mountjoy Prison.
