Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures put in place in 2008 to make prisons drug free; and the further measures planned for 2009. [36453/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to ensuring that all prisons are drug free in line with the commitments contained in the Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy and Strategy and I will continue to pursue strategies to achieve that objective.

With regard to supply elimination, the implementation of the Policy and Strategy has seen an intensification of efforts to eliminate the availability of illicit drugs within prisons. In addition to the introduction of mandatory drug testing, other elements include enhancement of CCTV, utilisation of video scope camera cell search and enhanced security generally. Also, new visiting arrangements are in place, or in the course of being put in place, in closed prisons whereby only persons who have been nominated by the prisoner and pre-approved by the Governor are permitted to visit.

Facilities for screened visits have been installed in all closed prisons. In accordance with the Policy and Strategy, prisoners in respect of whom the Governor is satisfied that there is no risk of contraband being passed may be facilitated with open visits. Prisoners who are caught receiving drugs or who test positive for drugs will be facilitated with screened visits only.

As regards enhanced security, the Deputy will also be aware that sanction was secured by my Department for an additional 155 staff to implement a range of security measures, coordinated nationally by a dedicated Governor, aimed at keeping contraband out of our prisons. In 2008 these measures included the establishment of a drug detection dog service within the Irish Prison Service; the first 10 Units of the Irish Prison Service Canine Unit are now in place. A further 6 will be added prior to the end of the year. These units are supported by a private contractor. They included the establishment of Operational Support Units in each prison dedicated to, and developing expertise in, searching and gathering intelligence. They also included the introduction of enhanced security screening and searching of all persons (visitors and staff) entering our prisons. Airport style scanners, x-ray machines, etc., are in operation at the entrances to most of our closed prisons and the installation programme for the remaining prisons is nearing completion. The measures called for cell and area searches for contraband such as mobile phones take place in all our prisons on a daily basis. These include random, targeted and intelligence led searches, many of which are now carried out by the recently established Operational Support Group.

The third and final phase of the installation of a pilot scheme of mobile phone inhibition at the Midlands Prison is almost complete. The indications so far are positive; enough to convince me that it is a worthwhile programme and merits commencement of the second module of the scheme. This will see the installation of an inhibition system beginning in Portlaoise Prison in the coming months. The measures also included the use of modern cameras and probe systems which assist in searching previously difficult areas such as hollow chair or bed legs, under floor boards and other cavities. and the introduction of a "Boss Chair" in Cloverhill Prison which is used to scan all prisoners for contraband secreted in their body cavities.

Further measures planned for 2009 include: the establishment of a further 14 Units of the Irish Prison Service Canine Unit. Upon successful completion of the module of the mobile phone inhibition scheme, roll out will commence across the prison estate — and further "Boss Chairs" are to be rolled out in closed prisons.