Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a high rate of recidivism among people who leave the prison system. Although I agree with the Minister of State that we need to break the cycle, we need to put treatment plans in place for people while they are in prison. Mental health and addiction are always problematic and prominent. It is imperative that people get the help they need while they are in prison. It would lead to less reoffending and would benefit society in general.

I referred to 2,259 people awaiting treatment in prison but I will also provide the waiting lists for some individual prisons. At the training unit in Mountjoy, which you would think would be a priority, there are 53 prisoners waiting 893 days, on average, for an appointment with a psychologist. In the Midlands Prison, there are 516 prisoners waiting 645 days, on average. In Mountjoy, there are 314 prisoners waiting an average of 610 days. In Castlerea Prison, there are 158 prisoners waiting 515 days and in Wheatfield Prison there are 260 prisoners waiting 432 days. These statistics are unacceptable. It is a captive audience, excuse the pun, when people are in prison. They can get the help they need while they are in there. If they do not, it will lead to more reoffending. Does the Minister of State accept these numbers are unacceptable?

See this speech in context