Written Answers Nos. 130-147
130. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied there are sufficient resources in the prison service to cater for the mental health needs of the prison population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24237/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it works in partnership with the Health Service Executive and the National Forensic Mental Health Services to ensure the appropriate provision of Psychiatric services to those in custody with mental health needs in all closed prisons.
The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that In-Reach mental health services are available in all Dublin prisons, the Portlaoise Campus, and Castlerea Prison through collaboration with the National Forensic Mental Health Services.
There are currently eight Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists leading this service. This is supported by Non Consultant Hospital Doctors, 13 Community Psychiatric Nurses, and 2 Social Workers.
Specialist In-Reach services in collaboration with the HSE are in place in Cork Prison for consultant led mental health sessions to provide appropriate services to prisoners in that prison.
A Consultant Adult Psychiatrist, with a special interest in Forensic Psychiatry, who was appointed on a permanent basis to the HSE Mid West in January 2015, is providing an In-Reach service to Limerick prison on a sessional basis.
The Irish Prison Service has also confirmed that it has access to a limited number of places in the Central Mental Hospital for prisoners who require residential mental health treatment.
The Irish Prison Service has established two dedicated areas, in Cloverhill Prison for remand prisoners, and the High Support Unit in Mountjoy Prison for sentenced prisoners, where high support is provided to vulnerable prisoners with mental illness. The High Support Units have managed vulnerable and mentally ill prisoners in a more effective and humanitarian environment, and this has resulted in greater access to care and regular reviews by the prison In-Reach team.
A Psychiatric In-reach and Court Liaison Service is delivered by the HSE at Cloverhill Prison. This diversion system ensures, insofar as possible, that people presenting before the courts, or indeed at an earlier stage of the criminal justice system, where the infraction is a reflection of an underlying mental illness, are referred and treated appropriately. This approach has reduced the number of mentally ill people committed to prison.
I have also been advised that the Irish Prison Service provides training to staff on mental health issues, including suicide awareness training by way of programmes such as STOP4, training on Seclusion Policy, and Critical Incident Stress Management. It is currently implementing a service wide programme of mental health awareness training for prison staff.
Prisoners have access to the Samaritans and the Listeners scheme. There are also a number of In-Reach groups that provide information and support in the area of mental health to prisoners.
The McMorrow Commission's Final Report on its investigation into the death of Gary Douch contained a number of key findings relating to the management, medical treatment, and psychiatric care of prisoners. The Irish Prison Service has developed, and is implementing a comprehensive Action Plan for the implementation of the Commission's recommendations which are relevant to the Irish Prison Service.
The Irish Prison Service is also directly involved in the Interdepartmental Group on people with mental illness and the criminal justice system chaired by my Department. This Group is examining issues relating to people with mental illness which arise from their interaction with the criminal justice system. This Group also includes representatives of the Department of Health, Health Service Executive, National Forensic Mental Health Service, An Garda Síochána, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
131. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding roadside breath testing; if a lower alcohol to breath limit than normally applies for those with a full driving licence will be applied where a driver does not have a full driver's licence to hand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24239/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to offer an interpretation of the law, and that the legislation in question comes under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. To be of assistance, I would draw the Deputy's attention to section 8 of the Road Traffic Act, 2010, as amended, which sets out the arrangements which apply where a person is unable to produce a driving licence as referred to by the Deputy, including the circumstances under which such a person will be deemed to be a specified person for the purposes of the Act, and therefore subject to the lower alcohol limits provided for in section 4 and 5 of the Act.
132. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason items purchased by prisoners in a prison shop cannot be transferred with them when they leave one prison to go and spend time in another. [24240/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the issuing of property including authorised and prohibited articles is Governed by Rules 8 and 9 of the Prison Rules 2007. In addition the Irish Prison Service has a policy in place on prisoner property. This policy provides that all property in the prisoners cell, or in storage for a prisoner, should transport with the prisoner on transfer and where this is not immediately possible as soon as possible thereafter.
If a prisoner has a specific complaint regarding an item of property he/she can make a request to the Governor to investigate their complaint within the context of the Prisoner Property Policy.
133. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners on remand in custody on 5 May 2015; and if she will provide in tabular form the numbers on remand in each prison and place of detention. [24252/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra134. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners aged 18 to 20 years inclusive on remand in custody on 5 May 2015; and if she will provide in tabular form the numbers on remand in each prison and place of detention. [24253/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra135. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners aged 21 to 24 years inclusive on remand in custody on 5 May 2015; and if she will provide in tabular form the numbers on remand in each prison and place of detention. [24254/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 133 to 135, inclusive, together.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it conducts an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population on the last day of each month. Accordingly, the information sought by the Deputy is based on an analysis of the snapshot of the prison population was conducted on the 30th April, 2015.
The information is set out in the following table.
|
Establishment Name |
Total Number on remand |
18 to 20 year olds on remand |
21 to 24 year olds on remand |
|
Castlerea Prison |
50 |
3 |
6 |
|
Cloverhill Remand Prison |
265 |
24 |
47 |
|
Cork Prison |
38 |
5 |
9 |
|
Limerick Prison (F) |
4 |
1 |
0 |
|
Limerick Prison (M) |
57 |
7 |
13 |
|
Midlands Prison |
44 |
0 |
4 |
|
Mountjoy Prison (F) |
16 |
0 |
1 |
|
Mountjoy Prison (M) |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
12 |
0 |
0 |
|
St. Patricks Institution |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wheatfield Place of Detention |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Total |
492 |
41 |
80 |
136. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 18 to 20 years, inclusive, committed under sentence of less than three months in 2014. [24255/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra137. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 21 to 25 years, inclusive, committed under sentence of less than three months in 2014. [24256/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra138. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 18 to 20 years, inclusive, committed under sentence of less than six months in 2014. [24257/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra139. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 21 to 25 years, inclusive, committed under sentence of less than six months in 2014. [24258/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra140. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 18 to 20 years, inclusive, committed under sentence of less than 12 months in 2014. [24259/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra141. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 21 to 25 years, inclusive, committed under sentence of less than 12 months in 2014. [24260/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra142. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 18 to 20 years, inclusive, excluding fines, committed under sentence of less than three months in 2014. [24261/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra143. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 21 to 25 years, inclusive, excluding fines, committed under sentence of less than three months in 2014. [24262/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra144. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 18 to 20 years, inclusive, excluding fines, committed under sentence of less than six months in 2014. [24263/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra145. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 21 to 25 years, inclusive, excluding fines, committed under sentence of less than six months in 2014. [24264/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 18 to 20 years, inclusive, excluding fines, committed under sentence of less than 12 months in 2014. [24265/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons aged 21 to 25 years inclusive, excluding fines, committed under sentence of less than 12 months in 2014. [24266/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 to 147, inclusive, together.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables.
Table 1. Persons committed under Sentence in 2014
|
Age Group |
Less than 3 Months |
3 < 6 Months |
6 < 12 Months |
Total |
|
18-20 |
472 |
103 |
77 |
652 |
|
21-25 |
1,760 |
225 |
179 |
2,164 |
Table 2. Persons committed Under Sentence in 2014 (Excluding fines)
|
Age Group |
Less than 3 Months |
3 < 6 Months |
6 < 12 Months |
Total |
|
18-20 |
38 |
101 |
77 |
216 |
|
21-25 |
99 |
200 |
179 |
478 |
