Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have met a lot of people who were in prison and who have gone to the Coolmine Therapeutic Community. While the witnesses would argue that the prison provides an environment for prisoners to end their addiction and to avail of wraparound services, many of the people I have met would have a contrary view. Many told me that the prison environment made their addiction worse. In fact, many of them developed polydrug use while in prison and their level of addiction actually increased.