Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the prisons in which alleged sex offenders awaiting trial and not on bail are currently held and the numbers concerned; the prisons in which convicted sex offenders currently serving sentences are held and the numbers concerned; the numbers of convicted sex offenders currently undergoing treatment; the prisons in which such treatment is being provided; and the numbers who have agreed to or sought treatment to whom no treatment is currently available. [23389/07]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons currently employed full-time and part-time by the Prison Service to provide treatment to convicted sex offenders; the qualifications of same; the prisons to which they are attached; the number of said posts currently vacant; and his proposals to recruit additional personnel to provide such treatment. [23390/07]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the type of treatment provided within the Prison Service to convicted sex offenders to attempt to ensure they do not re-offend upon release; and the action taken to implement the recommendations of the joint committee on child protection made in November 2006 that there be developed a comprehensive and fully funded programme for the assessment and treatment of convicted sex offenders beginning upon conviction and continuing for as long as necessary through imprisonment and after release. [23391/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 to 494, inclusive, together.

The details of those on remand for offences of a sexual nature and also convicted for such offences as on 10 October 2007 are detailed in the table.

There are three forms of direct therapeutic intervention for sex offenders currently operating within the Irish prison system. These are as follows:

Individual counselling from the Irish Prison Service's Psychology Service and from the Probation Service;

The Sex Offender Programme which has been in operation since 1994; and

One-to-one interventions by visiting psychiatrists who provide support to prisoners.

Every effort is made to assist sex offenders in custody who are willing to participate at any level in their personal rehabilitation and relapse prevention. While it is not possible to quantify with absolute accuracy participation in all forms of rehabilitation, many of those in custody for sex offences have availed of one or more of the forms of intervention referred to above.

The second intervention which I have specified in my reply is the intensive offence-focused group programme. The programme is managed and delivered by members of the Irish Prison Service's Psychology Service and the Probation Service and caters for eight offenders at a time, taking 11 months to complete. The Psychology Service staff involved in the Programme have internationally recognised qualifications in psychology (e.g. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Masters in Counselling Psychology). The programme also requires one full-time Probation Officer with accompanying managerial input. This Probation officer is a professionally qualified social worker.

The Probation Service has recently restructured its Service delivery to prisons and formed one region 'Prisoners, Risk and Resettlement' comprising 48 staff. The staff of this region provide dedicated services to twelve prisons as well as a dedicated High Risk Offender Team. This team will be developing a "best practice" model for the Service's interventions with sex offenders.

In keeping with international best practice in this area, the programme is a structured, offence-focused programme, employing a cognitive behavioural approach with a relapse prevention component. The aim of the programme is to reduce sexual victimisation in society. In achieving this, the programme places considerable emphasis on the therapeutic process within the group and on supporting each participant in gaining the knowledge, skills, attitudes and self confidence necessary to live his life differently and more constructively in the future. The programme seeks to address the behaviour that leads to offending by all types of sex offenders.

A total of 128 sex offenders have completed the sex offender programme to date. A further eight men are about to begin undertaking the programme in Arbour Hill Prison. There is no waiting list in operation in respect of participation on the programme. The programme is voluntary and the practice is to invite all eligible sex offenders to apply for a place on the programme when a new group programme is being set up. The reasons why applicants for the programme might be considered unsuitable include: the applicant's sentence is under appeal, current serious mental health problems would militate against effective participation in the programme, the applicant is not sufficiently prepared for the intensity of the programme, denial of offence, etc. In addition, a number of offenders undergo one-to-one counselling in relation to their sexual offending.

Some individuals engage with the therapeutic services initially to seek assistance in adjusting to imprisonment or to address their mental health needs. Following such interventions, offenders are often more open to looking at their sexual offending and a concentrated period of motivational work is conducted to help them address their offending behaviour and related issues. In response to such counselling many offenders, who initially might deny responsibility for their crime or deny any need for treatment, are motivated towards some process of change. For some offenders this results in them undertaking the Sex Offender Programme, for others it results in sustained individual therapy around their offending or engagement in some other programme available in the prison system.

I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that we cannot compel offenders to participate in the programme. While offenders can be supported and encouraged in their efforts to change and to address their offending behaviour, ultimately successful completion of any intervention programme depends on the willing participation and commitment of appropriately motivated individuals. Otherwise, the key elements of the programme concerned with supporting the offender in taking responsibility for his offending behaviour and in developing a comprehensive plan for a non-offending lifestyle in the future will not succeed. The challenge, therefore, for the Irish Prison Service, is to use a range of channels to motivate as many offenders as possible to undertake change and to address their offending behaviour.

The number of suitably motivated offenders applying for participation on the Sex Offenders Programme has declined in recent years and this is a matter of concern. The Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service continually review their processes to determine what measures may be taken to increase the number of offenders participating on the programme. In recent years additional psychologists have been appointed to the Irish Prison Service; the Service's staffing level is currently at an all time high. These new psychologists play an important role in working with offenders to address their offending behaviour, including work with sex offenders aimed at enhancing their preparedness for possible participation on the Sex Offender Programme.

There are currently 18 psychologists appointed to the Irish Prison Service. A total of 13 psychologists are based in those establishments holding sex offenders. They provide psychological services, on request, to prisoners, including sex offenders, held in these establishments. The work undertaken with sex offenders covers mental health and/or offence-related issues. One psychologist, currently attached to Arbour Hill Prison, is in the process of leaving the Irish Prison Service to take up other employment. An advertisement has been placed this month with a view to filling this post. In addition, advertisements have also been placed for an additional psychologist to augment services to Wheatfield Prison and for a psychological assistant to augment services to Arbour Hill Prison. The Irish Prison Service is also actively exploring the possibility of enhancing service provision to this group of offenders in partnership with community based organisations who have expertise in this area.

My Department and the relevant agencies are continuing our examination of how the treatment and supervision of sex offenders can be enhanced and in that context the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Child Protection are under consideration. Under Part 5 of the Sex Offender Act 2001, the Probation Service has statutory responsibility to supervise certain sex offenders in the community. Protocols are in place within the Service to ensure effective data and risk management. These include obligations on Probation teams to notify the HSE of sex offenders who are due to be released from custody.

I should also advise the Deputy that the Probation Service are working with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland to develop an assessment instrument specifically applicable to sex offending. The introduction of an All Ireland Risk Assessment Psychometric Instrument will facilitate an enhanced quality of assessment and associated post-release intervention. This instrument will also form the basis for community based risk management.

In addition, community based intervention programmes are currently operated by the Probation Service in conjunction with the Granada Institute under the Lighthouse project. These group based programmes operate in Dublin and target those who have been convicted of sexual offences against children.