Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of all drug rehabilitation programmes being offered in the prison system; the programmes recently terminated; the reason for the termination of these programmes; the programmes being prepared for roll-out; when such programmes will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22209/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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On 2nd May 2006, I launched the new Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs out of Prison. This new policy fulfils the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish the plan to end all heroin use in Irish prisons as well as my own commitment to achieve a drug-free prison system. The implementation of this Policy & Strategy has seen an intensification of efforts in the prison system to eliminate the availability of illicit drugs within prisons. This Policy & Strategy involves the traditional means of effecting supply reduction — staff vigilance, physical searches and supervision of persons entering prisons and their reinforcement by means of improved facilities and procedures. The Policy & Strategy has also provided for a range of new measures to eliminate the supply of drugs into prisons: notably, enhanced visit security, the introduction of passive drug detection dogs and mandatory drug testing. An underlying aim of the new Policy & Strategy is the operation of all treatment programmes within a coherent policy framework, understood and supported by all agencies involved in drug treatment within the prison system.

The new Policy & Strategy also provides for enhanced engagement with the Community and Voluntary Sector, who play an important role in supporting drug addicted prisoners, both in prison and in the community. The Policy & Strategy also provide for the strengthening of the links to national bodies in this area, notably in the area of information sharing and research.

Working to fulfil these commitments will involve the implementation of stringent measures to prevent drugs from getting into prisons while, at the same time, continuing to invest in services within prisons to reduce the demand for illicit drugs in the prisoner population as well as meeting prisoners' treatment and rehabilitative needs.

Drug rehabilitation programmes for prisoners involve a significant multidimensional input by a diverse range of general and specialist services provided both by the Irish Prison Service and visiting statutory and non-statutory organisations. The Irish Prison Service seeks to reduce the demand for drugs within the prison system through education, treatment and rehabilitation services for drug-addicted offenders. Particular initiatives put in place include a Drugs Detoxification programme, a programme of Substitution Therapies, a programme of maintaining Voluntary Testing Drug Free wings, health interventions, vaccination programmes and treatment for viral illnesses.

I can assure the Deputy that no prison drug treatment programmes have been terminated. In fact, the present programmes will be expanded and enhanced with the further recruitment of psychologists and addiction counsellors. Advertisements for these positions have been placed in the national media and it is anticipated that these positions will be filled in the near future. The roll-out of the Drugs Policy & Strategy, including the enhancement of these programmes, has begun and I am confident that the targets set out will be reached, the major portion being implemented by end-2006 and the longer-term targets by end-2007.