Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

Prisoners are provided with access to health care services on an equivalent basis to citizens in the general community who are covered by the General Medical Services, GMS, medical card. Section 37 of the Prisons Act 2007 allows for the prison rules to provide, where it is deemed necessary on the basis of non-convicted status to facilitate a prisoner with access to elective health care outside the public system, that the prisoner will be responsible for the costs associated with facilitating such provision. Provision of necessary health care to all prisoners on an equivalent basis to that provided under the public health system will continue to be funded by the State.

In addition to the escort costs that could arise in the facilitation of access to elective health care outside the public system, prisoners are charged for escorts outside of their place of detention with regard to civil proceedings against third parties. It is not proposed to charge for escorts where the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform or an individual governor is listed as a defendant or co-defendant in such proceedings. It is also proposed not to charge prisoners for appointments relating to any matters before the Residential Institutions Redress Board.

Access to certain other services in prison is provided without charge and it is not intended to begin charging for these services. For example, no charge is made for the making of a certain number of phone calls. Prisoners are entitled to a daily phone call, including calls to their legal adviser, and this will continue to be the position.

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