Vol. 495 No. 7
591 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a protocol will be put in place as a matter of urgency for prisoners receiving methadone in Mountjoy Prison to ensure that, when they are granted temporary release or released at weekends, they will have the necessary certification to enable them to obtain methadone outside prison (details supplied). [21345/98]
At present there are no arrangements in place for all prisoners who are prescribed methadone while in Mountjoy to ensure that they can also obtain methadone while on temporary release for short periods or if they are granted early release. However, prisoners who are on triple therapy can call back to the prison each morning to take their prescribed methadone. Arrangments can sometimes be made to have the methadone distributed at a local clinic. Special arrangements may also be made for other prisoners in conjunction with the Prison Medical Officer. The Governor of Mountjoy Prison has commenced discussions with the Director of the Prisons Medical Service, the Prisons Medical Officers and the Eastern Health Board to identify measures to deal with this problem and regularise procedures. This work is ongoing.
