Ms Molly Joyce:

My understanding is that there are some issues around staffing at the CMH. They are potentially ongoing issues that are tied into some of the issues relating to the delays in transferral to the new building. My colleagues will have more detail on the specific issues in that regard.

Within the Prison Service, the staffing of mental health positions is also an ongoing issue. The Prison Service has been engaged in recruitment of psychology staff, with eight psychologists hired since May who, it is hoped, will start in 2023 at different levels. I understand the service will run a new campaign to hire psychologists in May or June next year. There are attempts to address the problems in the Prison Service in recruiting and retaining staff across all areas of healthcare. As I said, that ties into the availability of mental healthcare support within the service.

Another issue I am aware of from speaking to people within the Prison Service is that there are issues with staffing levels in the prison inreach and court liaison service. As I understand, that service is really only operating in Dublin at the moment. The staff involved are staff from the National Forensic Mental Health Service Hospital who work within the prisons. It is a very difficult job and retention of staff is likewise difficult. There is a problem in keeping people with sufficient experience and expertise working in that area. There are recommendations from the high-level task force to roll out the prison inreach and court liaison service. It will require a lot more qualified and experienced staff to do that. As I understand, it is not an area in which very junior or new staff would be engaged. People can be trained up to do it but there is a level of expertise required.