Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the changes he proposes to make to policy and procedure in view of recent reports in respect of the widespread availability of illegal drugs in prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9085/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Presumably, the Deputy is referring to recent reports regarding the number of prisoners testing positive for drugs in our prisons. In regard to the figures published, some of them relate to the use of drugs immediately prior to committal. The length of time prisoners were in custody before being tested was not recorded, so a precise breakdown of such cases cannot be given.

It should also be noted that the power to take random mandatory drug tests of prisoners only came into existence in October 2007 when the new prison rules came into operation. Prior to that date, drug testing had been primarily targeted at prisoners with a known history of drug misuse. The figures should not be seen as an indicator of drug misuse across the wider prisoner population.

Nevertheless, the level of positive tests among prisoners is a cause for serious concern. The policy and strategy of the Irish Prison Service to keep drugs out of prisons aims to eliminate the availability of illicit drugs within prisons with tighter control and monitoring of prisoner visits and committals in all closed prisons; greater use of screened visits; increased random searching of cells and their occupants; use of modern cameras and probe systems which assist in searching previously difficult areas such as hollow chair or bed legs, under floor boards and other cavities; use of phone detectors and phased installation of telephone blocking technology.

I would also like to advise the Deputy that a number of new security initiatives will shortly be introduced in all closed prisons. These include the establishment of a drug detection dog service within the Irish Prison Service involving 30 handling teams; and the establishment of an operational support group dedicated to developing expertise in searching and gathering intelligence on illicit material being hidden inside our prisons. They will be available in addition to the normal prison staff and can target specific security problem areas.

The physical design and urban setting of some of the State's older prisons, such as Mountjoy, does not assist in combating the inflow of drugs. The proposed new prison at Thornton Hall in County Dublin addresses this deficiency by the creation of a cordon sanitaire around it.

Drug treatment services to prisoners are also being significantly enhanced through the development of new services and programmes.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

These services are being delivered by the Irish Prison Service in partnership with community based services and contracted private services and supported by additional staffing for prison based drug treatment teams — for example, an addiction counselling service which is being provided by Merchants Quay is, in conjunction with other developments, delivering nearly 1,000 hours per week of prisoner access to addiction counselling.

There are also currently drug free units in Wheatfield Prison, St. Patrick's Institution, Castlerea Prison and Mountjoy Prison. There is a detox programme in operation in Mountjoy. Allied to this the training unit, Arbour Hill, Loughan House and Shelton Abbey are regarded as drug-free institutions. I am committed to ensuring that the Irish Prison Service continues to take all measures necessary to deal with this issue.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Notwithstanding the Minister's lengthy reply, I put it to him that this is one aspect of Government policy which has been a complete failure. Promise after promise by the Minister and his predecessor over the years that our prisons would be drug free ring hollow in the context of the recent figures. I put it to him also that security in our prisons in terms of access to them is in some way deficient having regard to the fact that in recent weeks, members of the public could freely walk into two different prisons. That is a further example of security in our prisons being less than satisfactory.

What is needed is airport-type security with screens, radar detectors and sniffer dogs to ensure we can bring an end to a situation where many prisoners have greater drug problems leaving prison than they have when they enter them. The Government's national drugs strategy's critical implementation path promised the appointment of an independent evaluator in 2007 but this has not yet taken place. When will such an appointment be made? Is the Minister satisfied there is sufficient security in our prisons because the present situation is totally unacceptable?

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I assure Deputy Charles Flanagan that the dogs are on the way and the handlers are being trained. I am not aware of what promises I have made in this area but I very much believe in action. I will supply the Deputy with the information about the evaluator, but on my appointment I found I did not need an evaluator to tell me about the extent of this problem. I went to Government and got a decision to take a number of practical measures needed to address it. Those measures are now being implemented. I hope they will work given time. They involve much tighter control and monitoring of all prisoner visits in all closed prisons. Deputy Charles Flanagan and other Deputies will be aware this led to some industrial relations difficulties before Christmas but I am glad to say they have been resolved.

They also involve new visiting arrangements in most closed prisons with visitors required to be preapproved by the governor and required to prove identification on each visit; increased random searching of cells and their occupants; airport-type security to which Deputy Flanagan referred; the introduction of modern cameras and probe systems to search difficult areas; the introduction of enhanced security screening for all persons — visitors and staff — entering the prisons; the establishment of the drug detection dog service to which I referred; and the operational support unit which will operate outside the existing Prison Service staff, subject to a governor in each prison. It will operate as a separate intelligence unit, gathering information in this area and targeting those responsible for the illicit supply of drugs into prisons.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister accept that the screening arrangements relating to visits are insufficient to counter the passing of illegal substances — namely, drugs — between visitors and prisoners? Will he consider introducing, in respect of certain visits, physical screens between prisoners and visitors? Having regard to the seriousness of this problem, perhaps consideration could be given to ensuring that prisoners dress in a form of clothing that does not contain pockets, pouches or other areas in which drugs may be secreted. It is entirely unsatisfactory that prisoners engaged in detoxification are not segregated from those who are freely taking drugs. This is part of the problem. There is an entire drugs underworld in our prisons that is not being dealt with in an adequate manner.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Enhanced security screening is part of the plan and it will be introduced in closed prisons to ensure that the easy passage of materials such as those under discussion ceases. On the matter of detoxification, not only in respect of those addicted to drugs but also for those addicted to alcohol, it is important — I have considered this matter in the context of Thornton Hall — to provide separate facilities for those affected in order that they can have a real opportunity to kick the habit while they are incarcerated.