Vol. 502 No. 6
225 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people directly admitted to the prison service from the courts in 1998; and his views on the contention that many people are in the prison service who should be more appropriately cared for in the psychiatric service. [9184/99]
I understand that approximately 11,600 persons were committed to prisons in 1998.
Where a prisoner is identified by the prison medical services as requiring psychiatric care and treatment, specialist consultant psychiatric services are provided to prisons in Dublin by two consultant forensic psychiatrists with the assistance of other medical staff employed at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin, which is administered by the Eastern Health Board.
In relation to prisons located at Cork, Limerick, Castlerea and Portlaoise, consultant psychiatrists from the local health boards provide consultation inputs as required. Where necessary, the Central Mental Hospital provides assessment, treatment and care services to prisoners who may be transferred there from prisons on the advice of a consultant psychiatrist or a consultant forensic psychiatrist as appropriate. In 1998, a total of 156 prisoners were transferred from the prison service to the Central Mental Hospital.
The forensic psychiatric services at the Central Mental Hospital are being expanded and I have approved the provision of £200,000 additional revenue resources in 1999 to assist the development of such services within the prison system.
