Dr. Philip Dodd:

I thank the Deputy for asking this question. At a policy level the improvement of forensic mental health services is well-placed within Sharing the Vision. There are four recommendations specifically in that area. Since the publication of Sharing the Vision in 2020, the Departments of Justice and Health established a high-level task force to look specifically into the area of improvement. The task force was chaired by former Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Ms Kathleen Lynch, and its report was published approximately four weeks ago.

The high-level task force report built on Sharing the Vision's policy focus and looked at three particular areas of improvement. The first was the whole area of diversion of vulnerable people with mental health problems as they potentially come into contact with the criminal justice system. The second area was enhancing treatment for those individuals who are in the prison system and presenting with mental health difficulties. The third work area was having a pre-release focus to try to ensure the pathway is enhanced as much as possible for individuals with mental health difficulties who are about to be released through the Probation Service or community services.

With regard to monitoring the implementation of the high-level task force recommendations, the Departments of Health and Justice are agreeing an implementation monitoring structure in collaboration with the national implementation monitoring committee, which is the independently chaired committee established by the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, to oversee the implementation of Sharing the Vision.

Specifically with regard to existing mental health supports in prisons, we have a National Forensic Mental Health Service that was primarily based in Dundrum and has moved now to the new site at Portrane. That is associated with a number of prison outreach specialist mental health teams which see prisoners who present with mental health difficulties and provide treatment. There were significant capacity issues with the Dundrum site, where capacity was approximately 98 beds. I am happy to say that the opening of the new service at Portrane will increase capacity to approximately 170 beds.

Another important part of our current supports in prisons is the psychology service in prisons. The National Office for Suicide Prevention specifically monitors the levels of self-harm taking place in prisons and has provided significant support to the enhancement of the clinical expertise of psychologists working within the Prison Service.