Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 457: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the estimated extent of drug usage in prison; the estimated amount of drug dealing arranged from prison; and the steps he has taken to confront the situation. [2865/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The absence of mandatory drug testing made it impossible to accurately estimate the level of drug misuse within our prison system. The Deputy will, of course, be aware of the mandatory drug testing of prisoners initiative which will, for the first time, provide empirical evidence as to the extent of the problem and also provide information on trends in drug misuse. In addition, it will enable the identification and referral of drug abusers to treatment programmes, enable enhanced focusing of resources and act as a deterrent to drug misuse.

I am also aware of reports suggesting that prisoners may be engaged in criminal activities, including drug dealing, from inside prison cells and I would like to assure the Deputy that I am committed to continuing to implement all appropriate measures to deal with such activity and to ensure that the prisoner's contact with the outside world is tightly controlled and monitored in an appropriate way.

Prisoner visits in all closed prisons are carefully controlled and held in sight of prison officers and monitored on CCTV. In addition, new visiting arrangements are in place in almost all closed prisons whereby only persons who have been pre-approved by the Governor are permitted to visit. The implementation of a passive drug dog detection programme is currently under way and initial reports are very positive. Telephone calls in closed prisons are monitored by prison officers and incoming and outgoing mail is subject to examination by a prison censor. There is regular contact between the Prison Service and An Garda Síochána to discuss security issues and Gardaí will be contacted whenever any suspected criminal offence has taken place.

One of the major challenges in prisons worldwide lies in preventing access to contraband items, primarily mobile phones and drugs, which for obvious reasons, are viewed as highly valuable commodities which could assist in illegal activity. Efforts are made on a continual basis to prevent the flow of such contraband into our prisons, by for example, the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, upgraded CCTV monitoring, the use of screened visits and prisoner and cell searches. In addition, plans to avail of technological options for dealing with the use of mobile phones within prisons are at an advanced stage.

Random searches of cells and their occupants and searching of correspondence and other items entering the prison have all intercepted significant quantities of contraband in recent years. When a person is admitted to prison custody, he or she is searched and prohibited items and money are taken. Similarly, searching takes place of prisoners returning from court, temporary release or after visits. Searches of prisoners also take place where their behaviour or information received raises suspicions that they may be in possession of contraband. The Prison Service has recently conducted a number of trial tests on modern cameras and probe systems which assist in searching previously difficult areas such as hollow chair or bed legs, U-bends in toilets, drain holes, under floor boards and other cavities. Initial tests would appear to indicate that these new technologies will be a valuable asset in this area. The new prison estates at Thornton Hall and a location in Munster will also make it harder for contraband to enter the prison by locating recreation yards away from perimeter walls and having a cordon sanitaire.

The Deputy may also be aware of a recent directive to the effect that a number of serious drug dealers are now to be segregated in a special area of Cloverhill Prison. It is anticipated that this initiative, in conjunction with the other measures referred to earlier, will prevent them from exerting inappropriate influence over other persons.