Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the tangible results that have been achieved in tackling the significant problem of drugs in prison; when prisons will be free of drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12966/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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In May of last year I launched the new Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy — Keeping Drugs Out of Prisons. This new policy clearly set out the steps required to tackle the supply of drugs into prisons, provide adequate treatment services to those who are addicted to drugs and ensure that developments in the prisons were linked into the community. Since then significant progress has been achieved in implementing this plan.

In line with my policy the Irish Prison Service has intensified its focus on preventing illicit drugs being brought into prisons. The traditional means of effecting supply reduction — staff vigilance, physical searches and supervision of persons entering prisons — continues to be reinforced by means of improved facilities and procedures. Specific measures which have been taken include:

New prison visiting arrangements which involve greater control over the number and identity of visitors, and enhanced supervision of such visits. As a result only identified and known persons are allowed to have visits with prisoners, reducing the likelihood of visitors attempting to pass drugs, and of prisoners being coerced into receiving visits from persons not known to them to facilitate the passing of drugs.

Enhanced perimeter security involving improved netting and closer cooperation with the Garda Síochána to arrest and prosecute persons attempting to convey drugs into prisons. This has resulted in arrest, prosecution and imprisonment of persons attempting to convey drugs into prisons.

Improved technology for searching of cells and prison property which has resulted in the improved detection and seizure of contraband.

Improved prison design aimed at ensuring greater security, for example new prisons are designed to be impervious to attempts to propel drugs into prison yards, and

The introduction of drug detection dogs to monitor all persons entering prisons and to aid searches within prisons.

Drug Treatment Services to prisoners are also being significantly enhanced through the development of new services and programmes for addicted prisoners. 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. Specific developments include:

A tender for 24 Addiction Counsellors to cover all Prisons has been awarded to Merchants Quay Ireland and Counsellors are already coming on stream. This will, in conjunction with other developments, lead to an increase of nearly 1000 hours per week of prisoner access to addiction counselling.

7 Nurse Officers and 5 Prison Officers have been allocated to Dedicated Drug Treatment Teams in prisons with significant needs, this will improve service quality in prisons which receive a large number of prisoner committals with addictions.

The Dormant Accounts Fund has provided funding for 4 community groups to provide addiction counselling and support to prisoners while in prison and on release in the community, this will build on their success in becoming drug free in prison when the prisoner returns to the community.

Additional Consultant in Addiction and Registrars Prisons Sessions have been established and resourced, significantly improving the quality, coordination and availability of drug treatment in prisons.

An In-reach Hepatitis C Nurse has been contracted from St James' Hospital to provide new treatments to prisoners who suffer from this disease. It is hoped to expand this service to other sites.

Tender for Dedicated Drug Treatment Pharmacy Services will issue this month, again supporting improved quality and availability of treatment services.

These services will be provided on the basis of clinical needs and will be supported by the implementation of a system of Mandatory Drug Testing (provided for in the Prisons Act 2007).

The target is to achieve a prison system free of drugs and to help those addicted to drugs to break the cycle of crime and drug abuse. This target will not be achieved overnight and will require constant vigilance but it has to remain as a key priority of the Prison Service.