Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and appreciate his coming in but the reality is that 600 prisoners in Mountjoy Prison are in addiction and there is no addiction nurse. Appointing clinical leads is well and good, but who will they work with? There are no addiction nurses for them to work with. How will that operate? It seems extraordinary. There are 180 prisoners in Mountjoy on methadone.

The Minister of State mentioned the chief nurse officer. I understand that on the night shift in Mountjoy Prison, there is just one nurse working. The treatment and neglect of prisoners are shameful.

I understand there used to be three nurses working in Mountjoy Prison, but now there are none. That is just not acceptable in a modern, wealthy country. On the one hand, there are no addiction nurses in Mountjoy Prison for the 600 prisoners in addiction, yet we are giving €9 million for phone pouches for schools. Who thought giving €9 million to schools for phone pouches was a good idea? Who could not see it was a harebrained idea when there are serious issues and deficiencies throughout services?

Today, I am highlighting the lack of addiction nurses in the Irish Prison Service but in every sector one will find the same need for funding and resources. Addiction nurses comprise a crucial element in ensuring the addiction rate in Irish prisons is reduced. This Government has failed miserably.

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