Ms Caron McCaffrey:

On data, I cannot do anything other than agree with the Deputy. The study was carried out by the National Forensic Mental Health Service. It is more than timely that the study would be carried out again. What we see on the ground is an increasing acuity in terms of the needs that people are presenting with so it is absolutely timely that we do that piece of research now. We are engaging with the HSE. It is not research that the Prison Service would do itself but it is research that we would do in conjunction with the HSE. The research is an absolute priority for the Prison Service and it is certainly not before its time.

On accessibility, people have got tools to assist them with their disability and if people need particular items then they are provided. We are doing quite a lot of work with our education service at the moment in terms of technology and how technology can assist people.

On learning, we have introduced the use of a reader pen called C-pen. We are introducing a form of technology called a tablet in prisons to support people with learning. We have been slow to do this because historically we took a very security-minded approach to things and decided that the security risks meant that we could not introduce technology within prisons. We now know that introducing technology in prisons opens up the horizon for so many people in terms of accessing not just educational material but also material on mental health. We are working on a new strategy on digitisation and the use of technology. I can assure the Deputy that assisting learning in prison will be a key component of our strategy.

The Prison Service has its own psychology service. I ask Dr. Regan to outline the details on the number of staff and talk about the waiting lists, which are quite significant.