Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Training for all staff is also very important so that they have a better understanding of the need not to discipline prisoners for behaviours related to their disability. Solitary confinement for anyone with a disability should be prohibited. It is also recommended that the service would provide quiet cells for those with sensory issues.

The Irish Prison Service is doing an excellent job. Representatives of the service appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters in recent months and said that the service is understaffed in areas like psychology. There are 2,000 prisoners using the psychology services but a substantial number are on a waiting list. That needs to be addressed. They also made the point that a large number of people with mental health issues in prisons might not be there if they had been given the proper supports in society. I know of a number of people who ended up in prison because the local psychiatric unit refused to accept them. We need to look at providing more supports for people in the community and in our hospitals to ensure they do not end up in prison, which is not a suitable environment for them and which can worsen their disability.

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