Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I set out in my reply that there are 19 addiction counsellors working across 11 prisons, providing an invaluable rehabilitative service to prisoners, and it is hoped that in the coming months this service will be further enhanced. I understand the point the Deputy has raised but believe there is now a commitment to further expand the role of the nurses. I hope that will happen over the next 12 months.

The Irish Prison Service recognises the significant prevalence of addiction and drug-related harm in our prisons. This issue affects not only the prisoners involved but also their families, prison staff and the wider community. As such, the service is committed to a multi-pronged approach to tackling the issues of drugs and drug addiction in prisons, including through the provision of education and health promotion materials to prisoners via education partners, the detection and prevention of contraband smuggled into prisons, and the expansion and diversification of the treatment options available to prisoners and addiction.

It has been highlighted that there is likely to be a need for dedicated addiction nurses in some prisons, and the Irish Prison Service is currently scoping where these nurses are most needed, what an addiction nurse role within the Irish Prison Service would look like, and how best to deliver this service with the current staffing.

I referred to Merchants Quay Ireland's role and the work it is doing. Therefore, this is not something that is being ignored. There is a proactive approach on the part of the Irish Prison Service and Department. I hope this will continue and that the appointment of nurses dealing with addiction will expand further over the coming 12 months to two years. There is a scoping exercise under way and I hope the matter will be resolved within the next few months and progressed from there. It is an important issue. I am dealing with drug addiction and will certainly raise within my Department the issue of engaging with the Department of Justice on the matter.

See this speech in context