Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses for attending and for their opening statements. Persons with disabilities are overrepresented in our criminal justice system. We had the Prison Service before the committee and its representatives told us there are a huge number of people in prison with mental health issues, autism or intellectual disabilities. A lot of that is down to the lack of support in the community. If people get the proper supports when are young, they might not end up committing a crime or getting in with the wrong company. It is imperative that there is an understanding of all of these issues.

Chief Superintendent Jones said there is training and that quite a number of members of the service have engaged in the training. Is that open to everybody or is it just for new recruits?