Ms Nicola Perry:

I thank the Deputy for his question. To add to what Dr. O'Carroll has said, I feel from my position that treatment anywhere and for any population is a positive thing. However, rather like the findings of the report, I would say there is a disparity in terms of equality of care depending on where people are based. My understanding is that the situation within the prison system is similar. For example, as I clarified with a colleague in the Prison Service yesterday, if a person is currently in a Dublin-based prison, there is availability of treatment and an effective programme. As Dr. O'Carroll said, secondary care is not required and those undergoing treatment do not need to leave the prison system to attend hospital, unless they are particularly sick, which is rare. In respect of Cork, it was announced last summer that the national hepatitis C programme would endeavour to introduce a programme there. That has not worked for staffing and resource issues. The provision of treatment in the prison setting is a fantastic opportunity. It is something that could be considered when looking at the prevalence of hepatitis C and where case numbers are higher. Prisons would be one of those settings, but again, it comes back to the question of where people are based.