John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the quantity of drugs seized in St. Patrick's Institution in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the number of offenders as a percentage of the total held in St. Patrick's Institution in the years 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 that have participated in a drug treatment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46308/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The confiscation of drugs (or suspected drugs) was recorded by our prisons under the generic description of "prohibited articles/substances" in 2007 and 2008. Therefore an accurate breakdown of those statistics as requested by the Deputy for that period could not be obtained without the manual examination of records going back over a considerable time period. However, in 2009 to date, St. Patrick's Institution recorded 85 drug seizures. Gardaí are contacted once suspected drug seizures are made and issues of investigation and prosecution fall within their remit.

The Irish Prison Service continues to work to implement it's Drug Policy & Strategy, entitled "Keeping Drugs Out of Prison", which was launched in May 2006. Working to fulfil the commitments contained in the Policy and Strategy involves the implementation of stringent measures to prevent drugs from getting into prisons while, at the same time, continuing to invest in services within prisons to reduce the demand for illicit drugs in the prisoner population as well as meeting prisoners treatment and rehabilitative needs.

Drug Users present with multiple and complex problems. The evidence would indicate that a multidisciplinary approach is needed to effectively care for this group and that maintenance of a personalised therapeutic relationship yields the best outcomes.

Saint Patrick's Institution treated 15 prisoner/patients with methadone in 2007 and a further 28 in 2008. This represents 2% and 3.7% respectively of the number of prisoners committed to Saint Patrick's Institution for the years mentioned. The Central Treatment List who maintain a national register for methadone use have not compiled their cumulative data as yet for 2009. In presenting this data it must be remembered that many of the young people committed to Saint Patrick's Institution, while dabbling in illicit drug use, have not established a dependency on opiates and as such would not be considered for a methadone treatment programme. All those undergoing methadone treatment will be seen by an adolescence psychiatrist in addiction along with an addiction counsellor and the primary care general practitioner.

Prisoners have access to a range of medical and rehabilitative services such as psychosocial services and work and training options which assist in addressing their substance misuse issues. Saint Patrick's Institution also offers a drug free option to prisoners. This programme is run on a contingency management approach, which sees drug free behaviour rewarded which in turn reinforces positive models of behaviour. This approach has a strong evidence base and is particularly successful with adolescence age groups. This programme has a strict regime of voluntary drug testing in place.

The Irish Prison Service has committed significant investment in recent years in responding to addiction issues in the prison system. The most significant new development was the awarding of a contract for addiction counselling services to Merchants Quay Ireland. Eighty hours of addiction counselling per week are now in place in St. Patrick's Institution for those who are identified as at risk and wish to engage with services.