Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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I wish to briefly raise two issues, the first of which concerns the well aired problems faced by those suffering from mental health issues in the Irish Prison Service. The Minister might clarify who pays for the services. In January the new director general of the Irish Prison Service told the Committee of Public Accounts about the difficulty in recruiting forensic mental health staff and psychiatrists. Recruitment was sanctioned by the HSE, but the posts have not been filled. This exerts huge pressure on staff and prisoners who really need to be transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. It has been a disruptive influence on the Irish Prison Service. What is the difficulty in recruiting staff? Has the issue been addressed? Are particular schemes to improve the position on healthcare, particularly mental health care, for prisoners provided for in the budget?

The House supported my Bill to bring to an end the placing of prisoners in solitary confinement. However, there are still hundreds of prisoners across the State who spend 21 hours a day in their cell. Has any funding been invested to enable prisoners to leave their cell more? I refer, in particular, to prisoners who are subject to restrictive regimes for their own protection under Rule 63 of the 2007 Prison Rules. Obviously investment is required. It would mean the recruitment of more staff and the provision of better infrastructure. Will the Minister tell us a little more about what has been happening in that regard? Has the necessary investment been made?