Vol. 534 No. 2
122 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of men and women in custody for having committed a sexual offence; the number of these people receiving treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10262/01]
On 30 March 2001 there were 360 prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences. As I have explained to the House on previous occasions there are actually four forms of direct therapeutic intervention available to sex offenders within the Irish prison system at present. These are as follows: individual counselling from the Department's psychology service and from the probation and welfare service, the multi-disciplinary thinking skills group work programme in Cork, Arbour Hill and the Curragh, the intensive offence focused group work programme which has been in operation in Arbour Hill Prison since 1994 and was introduced in the Curragh earlier this year and the psychiatric service which provides extensive support to prisoners in this category.
There are 18 prisoners currently engaged in the intensive offence focused group work programmes that take place in Arbour Hill and the Curragh Place of Detention. The number of prisoners who attended the thinking skills programme last year was 39.
Every effort is made to assist sex offenders in custody who are willing to participate at some level in their personal rehabilitation and relapse prevention. While it is not possible to accurately quantify participation in all forms of rehabilitation, many of those in custody have availed of one or more of the forms of intervention referred to above. The number of offenders undergoing one to one counselling is difficult to define because of the varied nature of individual counselling provided to sex offenders in prison. This counselling can vary from one session addressing a particular problem to intensive ongoing counselling. Such a service is primarily provided by the probation and welfare service and the psychology service in my Department. Psychiatric services are also provided.
It should also be noted that it is not possible to compel sex offenders in custody to undergo treatment. Furthermore, I am advised that it would not be desirable to do so. The successful completion of any treatment course depends critically on the full and willing participation of self-motivated individuals. Otherwise, the key elements of the programme concerned with challenging the offender to take responsibility for his offending behaviour will not succeed.
