Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the strategy he has in place to reduce hepatitis C and HIV transmission in prisons here. [23228/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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There is a recognised link between drug misuse, particularly intravenous use, and the prevalence of both HIV and hepatitis C in the general community as well as in the prison population.

As regards reducing the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C within the prison environment, it is my policy to apply best practice to the prison situation. Best practice includes the prevention of drugs being introduced into or used in prisons and this is reflected in the commitment in the Government programme to end, in particular, heroin use in prison and to introduce compulsory drug testing for prisoners where appropriate.

In addition, it is policy to provide treatment and rehabilitation for drug users and the Irish Prison Service has been engaged for a considerable period in a process aimed at ensuring access to appropriate health care, including drug treatment, for the considerable number of prisoners at risk due to their substance misuse. In this regard, the Irish Prison Service has actively sought to directly involve community health agencies, both statutory and voluntary, in these developments. There is an ongoing process of providing prisoners with information regarding the risks and education on appropriate prevention strategies.

There has been a considerable expansion in the availability of methadone maintenance to prisoners who have been in receipt of this treatment from community agencies at the time of committal. It is intended to further expand the availability of appropriate services throughout the prison system.

For many years past, prisoners with a diagnosis of HIV, hepatitis, or other infectious diseases have continued to receive medical treatment while in custody in line with clinical recommendations. This medical treatment is generally in line with that available in the community. It has been long-standing practice to refer prisoners suffering from infectious diseases to specialist hospital services and to act on the basis of the clinical advice received. All such treatment is provided on the basis of informed consent and prisoners are free to refuse treatment, though instances of refusal are rare.

To accommodate the Government's policy on drugs-free prisons, appropriate new prison rules are near completion and the Government's policy on illegal drugs use in prison will be published by the end of 2004. It is my intention that early in the new year the Irish Prison Service will implement our new strategy of mandatory drug-testing, addiction counselling and treatment, increased measures to prevent drug usage, and a genuine system of rehabilitation.