Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 1063: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures in place to deal with the problem of drug abuse in the prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20924/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In May 2006, my predecessor launched the Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy and Strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs out of Prison. The implementation of this Policy and Strategy has seen an intensification of efforts to eliminate the availability of illicit drugs within prisons. A key part of these efforts is the introduction of mandatory drug testing which will commence across the prison system once the new Prisons Rules are introduced on 1 October, 2007. Other elements include enhancement of CCTV, introduction of an agreed visitor system, installation of video scope camera systems, installation of facilities for screened visits and enhanced security generally.

As regards enhanced security, the Deputy will also be aware that I have recently announced a range of security measures aimed at keeping contraband out of our prisons. These measures include:

the establishment of a drug detection dog service within the Irish Prison Service involving approximately 30 staff and an appropriate number of dogs. The Deputy will be aware that a pilot drug detection dog service has been in place since 23 May 2006 and is currently running in the Midlands/Portlaoise area, Wheatfield/Cloverhill Prisons and in the Mountjoy complex;

the establishment of an Operational Support Group dedicated to, and developing expertise in, searching and gathering intelligence; they will be available in addition to the normal prison staff and can target specific problem areas;

the introduction of enhanced security screening and searching of all persons (prisoners, visitors and staff) entering our prisons.

Specific developments in the area of drug treatment 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. Addiction Counsellors are already in place in some institutions and are expected (subject to successful recruitment) to be in place in all institutions by end 2007. This service will provide individual and group counselling supporting the range of drug treatment options (detoxification, maintenance etc.) available in the prison system. This is in addition to the prison based services such as the Psychology Service and Probation Service, as well as the large number of community based groups which provide psycho-social support to drug addicted prisoners.

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 Psychiatrist in Addictions and Registrar prisons sessions have been established and resourced, significantly improving the quality, coordination and availability of drug treatment in prisons.

A Consultant led Infectious Disease Service has been contracted from St James' Hospital to provide treatments to prisoners who suffer from these diseases. It is hoped to expand this service to other sites, and it is intended that a tender for Dedicated Drug Treatment Pharmacy Services will issue in the coming weeks, again supporting improved quality and availability of treatment services.

A counselling psychologist dedicated to drug treatment has been appointed at Mountjoy Prison.

The imminent introduction of a Nursing Management Structure should greatly streamline the provision of healthcare within prisons specifically in the area of drug treatment where multi-disciplinary team working is critical to success.

I am committed to the aim of making all prisons drug free in line with commitments in the Drugs Policy and Strategy.