Vol. 555 No. 4
16 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he intends to take to ensure the proper provision of treatment for offenders with mental health problems, having regard to the recent findings of a report commissioned by the Irish Prisons Service showing that a very high level of prisoners suffer from an intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18504/02]
It is important to distinguish between mental health problems, which include a range of problems such as psychiatric illnesses and personality disorders, and intellectual/learning disability. The specific report referred to in this question relates to learning disability and not mental health problems. The report, a copy of which I am arranging to have placed in the Oireachtas Library, is the subject of a separate Question, Ref. No. 18611/02, on today's Order Paper.
As regards services for prisoners with mental health problems, prisoners have access to a range of health care services, including mental health services. Mental health services are provided either in prison or, if considered clinically appropriate, in the Central Mental Hospital. In view of concerns outlined to my predecessor that the provision of adequate facilities was becoming increasingly problematic, an expert group was established in 1999 to review these issues and make recommendations.
