Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 3

Written Answers. - Drugs in Prisons.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

375 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason he has refused to involve the community or voluntary sector on the steering committee in relation to the drug treatment needs of prisoners in view of the drugs crisis that exists in our prisons and the failure of the statutory authorities to respond effectively; if he will urgently review this matter and invite a suitable representative from the voluntary or statutory sector as a full member of the steering committee. [26717/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The steering group referred to by the Deputy was established, at my request, by the Director General of the Irish Prisons Service at the end of 1999 to urgently progress the development of drug treatment services in the prison system.

The group, which is chaired by the director general, consists of senior prison staff, representatives of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Prisons Psychology Service, Probation and Welfare Service, Prisons Education Service, the Director of Prisons Medical Services and several nominees of the Eastern Regional Health Authority.

Direct membership of the steering group was sought by a number of community and voluntary organisations and the steering group met with three of these groups on 30 May 2000. Although the steering group considered the issue of voluntary and community representation at length, it was not able to agree to this proposal. However, the group did feel that a more appropriate development at this juncture would be full discussions, at reasonable intervals, between the steering group and these representative groups and the establishment of local liaison systems at individual prison level. The governors of Mountjoy Prison, Cloverhill Prison, St. Patrick's Institution and the training unit have agreed to establish local liaison groups with relevant community interests to facilitate dialogue and throughcare for persons treated in prison for drug dependency and with a view to enhancing the partnership approach to this issue.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

376 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent findings of a person (details supplied) in relation to the crisis in medical care of prisoners suffering drug addiction; and if he will give details of the immediate short-term plans he has to address this crisis. [26718/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The findings referred to have not been brought to my attention, however, I have asked the director of the Prisons Medical Services to endeavour to obtain a copy of these findings. The contents of this report will then be given due consideration.

On the issue of drug addiction I would like to lay out the numerous steps that I have put in place to try and combat this problem among the prison population. For example all committals to Mountjoy and St. Patrick's who misuse drugs are offered a 14 day detoxification programme; all committals to Cloverhill Remand Prison who misuse drugs are offered a 21 day detoxification programme, or less depending on their remand period; all committals to Cloverhill Remand Prison who are involved in a drug maintenance programme in the community prior to committal are allowed continue their programmes while in custody there; ongoing addiction counselling and education programmes; community based agencies visit prisons to provide support services and information, including individual counselling as required; an information forum is provided by the education-welfare services to prisoners informing them of the risks posed by communicable diseases; a detoxification and drug free unit is in operation in Mountjoy and an intensive drug free therapy programme co-ordinated by the Probation and Welfare Service and delivered by a multi-disciplinary team is in place.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a second drug treatment programme began at the health care unit in Mountjoy in March 2000. This offers detoxification and intensive therapeutic counselling over 12 weeks to prisoners nearing release with a view to returning them drug free onto a structured drug treatment programme in the community.

The action plan on drug misuse and drug treatment in the prison system which I approved last year provides a detailed strategy to raise the level of treatment for drug addicted offenders. This includes the expansion of detoxification facilities, more drug free areas and the provision of methadone maintenance. The provision of addiction counselling support services is central to the plan. The plan builds on a medical policy which has been agreed between my Department and the Eastern Health Board in that it seeks to provide the same access to treatment for prisoners as patients have within the community.

At my request the Director General of the Prisons Service recently established a national steering group for prison based drug treatment services with a view to implementing the action plan. The steering group comprises representatives from this Department, the Eastern Health Board, senior prisons service management, probation and welfare service, prisons psychology service and the prisons education service. The group submitted its first report to myself in July of this year and the report was circulated to various organisations for views and feedback. The implementation of the recommendations contained in the report were approved, in principle, by the Government on 18 October 2000, on the basis that the precise staffing and other expenditure related proposals would be the subject of direct negotiations between the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health and Children and Finance as well as the Prisons Service and health boards. These are due to commence immediately.