Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reduction in prisoner care and rehabilitation is primarily related to inflation and costs that were specific to Covid last year. There is no decrease in service. It is just that last year there was inflation in the overall costs, which we do not expect to happen this year.

On mental health more broadly, a body of work was done by the former Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Kathleen Lynch, which looked at mental health and addiction challenges in the Prison Service and those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector. There are quite a number of recommendations from that group. One of the recommendations that came from the work of the subgroup was to look at diversion and the development of a community access support team, CAST. That is being developed. It is about enhancing the diversionary practices for those who experience the type of crisis and trauma that leads to mental health difficulties so they are supported in a better way than they are now. A pilot is being developed and trialled in Limerick with the Limerick Garda division. That pilot includes An Garda Síochána, mental health services in Limerick, Mid West Community Healthcare and the Prison Service. The pilot project is not a mental health de-escalation unit but it looks to establish an appropriate co-response approach to calls relating to mental health and trauma. It is a pilot but it is one of the key recommendations from the mental health task force.

There has also been a lot of very positive engagement with Bernard Gloster, the head of the HSE, specifically looking at how we can improve the level of supports and services for prisoners with mental health problems. We have the new Central Mental Hospital, CMH, which has enhanced our capacity and ability. There were some initial challenges but there has been very positive engagement with the HSE in making sure that as many people as possible in prison can access those services. So many people in prison should not be there. They should be in mental health services and are in need of quite intense care. In saying that, I compliment the staff and team who work in our prisons on dealing with a very difficult dynamic and situation.

The main source of funding for specialist psychiatric services is provided by the HSE. Everyone who comes into prison is subject to a comprehensive medical assessment by the prisoner healthcare team. This includes a mental health assessment and further care that might be deemed appropriate, whatever that might be, by the team. This information from the initial nursing and medical assessment is used to develop an individual healthcare plan for the person while in custody. Where necessary, people are referred to a forensic clinician or a Prison Service psychologist or both. An in-reach psychiatric service is provided by the HSE as well. This is available in all Dublin prisons, and in Portlaoise, Midlands and Castlerea prisons, through collaboration with the National Forensic Mental Health Service. Consultant psychiatrist-led services are provided to those in custody in Limerick and Cork prisons. This is by way of an agreement with the HSE.

A lot of positive work is happening but I agree there is more we can do. That is certainly the focus of the mental health task force. Again, the engagement with the HSE has been very positive in that regard.