Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made regarding the request for provision of ongoing drugs rehabilitation treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24630/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that there is no record of any request from the prisoner referred to in the Parliamentary Question for the provision of addiction support services. I am also advised that the prisoner in question has been spoken to in regard to any addiction treatment services that may be helpful to him and he has indicated that no specific treatment service(s) is currently being sought.

As the Deputy will be aware prisoners with addiction problems have a range of support services available including medical, psychological, chaplaincy and addiction counselling. Every encouragement is given to prisoners who wish to address a substance misuse difficulty however, in the final analysis it is a matter for individual prisoners to decide if they wish to avail of these services.