Written Answers. - Prison Accommodation.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:
75
Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
his response to the recent report produced by the Irish Penal Reform Trust relating to the use of padded cells in Irish prisons; if he intends to act on the recommendations made in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15005/01]
Monica Barnes
Ceist:
108
Mrs. Barnes
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
his views on whether 78% of prison inmates held in padded cells are mentally ill as claimed in the report of the Irish Penal Reform Trust entitled Out of Mind, Out of Sight; his further views on whether there is a need to refurbish 40 rooms in the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum to cater for serious and long-term mentally ill inmates; if he will set up inservice psychiatric clinics in Mountjoy, Cork and Castlerea prisons; and if he will appoint a full-time inspector of prisons and an ombudsman for prisoners as recommend by the trust.
[14595/01]
Alan Shatter
Ceist:
192
Mr. Shatter
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
his views on whether 78% of prison inmates held in padded cells are mentally ill as claimed in the report of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, Out of Mind, Out of Sight; his further views on whether there is a need to refurbish 40 rooms in the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum to cater for serious and long-term mentally ill inmates; if he will set up inservice psychiatric clinics in Mountjoy, Cork and Castlerea prisons; and if he will appoint a full-time inspector of prisons and an ombudsman for prisoners as recommended by the trust.
[14597/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 108 and 192 together.
The finding in the report that 78% of prisoners placed in padded cells are suffering from mental illness is largely based on the comments and observations in prison registers of the use of such cells. Most of these entries, which are brief and situation related, are made by prison officers who are untrained in assessing or diagnosing mental illness. The classification by the trust's report of such cases as "mental illness" in this report is unscientific and does not represent the true figure.
I do, however, accept that an increasing number of vulnerable and mentally disordered people are being committed to prison. In this regard prison is used as a place of last resort by the courts for some mentally disordered people who may be charged with offences of a public order nature. It would be beneficial if more spaces were available to treat such prisoners, either in the Central Mental Hospital or elsewhere. I understand that there is a review under way at present by the East Coast Area Health Board on the future service role of the Central Mental Hospital and I am awaiting the outcome of that review.
The proposal that prison inservice clinics should be developed in Mountjoy, Castlerea and Cork prisons is, in my opinion, contrary to the thrust of the report that imprisonment and mental disorder are incompatible. Successive Governments have taken the view that if a prisoner is psychiatrically assessed as in need of psychiatric treatment, that treatment ought to be provided in a psychiatric hospital. That policy conforms generally to the policy in other European jurisdictions and to the policy advocated by the relevant organs of the Council of Europe. However, the recommendations contained in the Irish Penal Reform Trust report, including those referred to above, will be carefully considered. The Director General of the Prisons Service, in this context, met a deputation from the trust last week and they discussed their report and recommendations with him at some length.
Provision for an inspector of prisons is being made in the context of the Prisons Bill which is under preparation in my Department at present.
Prisoners have a number of avenues open to them to make requests or complaints. They have access to staff, the governor, the visiting committee, my Department and the courts. Prisoners may also write to the European Commission of Human Rights and-or the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment, CPT. In addition, they may meet with Department officials on request to discuss any issue of concern. In the circumstances I see no need at present to provide for an ombudsman for prisoners.
