John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 624: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 181 of 25 February 2009 and 190 of 1 July 2009, if he has received the proposal; the decision he has reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30738/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 635: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on a proposal regarding a facility (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the steps being taken to re-open the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30909/09]

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 721: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to the progress on Harristown House, Castlerea, County Roscommon; and when it is envisaged it will re-open. [31245/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 624, 635 and 721 together.

I have already set out the background to the closure of the Harristown House facility on numerous occasions in this House but perhaps it is worth repeating that the overall conclusion of the independent review into this facility was that the centre was in crisis. There were serious indications (e.g. HR, financial and quality of service) that the organisation had become dysfunctional the results of this review indicated that the organisation as it currently stood was no longer viable. In addition there were concerns expressed over the quality of care and rehabilitation. When the details of the report were brought to the attention of the Board of Management of the limited company which ran the facility they too shared the concerns raised in the report and they took the unanimous view that the preferred course of action was to close down the facility, take time to reflect on the learning and develop a vision and plan for a new way forward.

The Probation Service of my Department works daily with communities across the country supporting and mentoring its core client group to stay away from crime but it is not a primary drug treatment service provider. That said, in the 1970s, at a time when State and voluntary addiction services were limited and particularly difficult to access for offenders, the Probation Service initiated the provision of funding to support or develop services for offenders to fill an identified gap in services for this distinct client grouping.

Deputies will, I am sure, acknowledge that there has been significant development in HSE addiction services as well as other services over the past twenty years. This includes the development of harm reduction policies and practices and a range of enhanced options and provision, with improved access generally. The HSE is now established as the principal provider and funding body of medical and non-medical addiction services for both illicit drug and alcohol use delivered through its Social Inclusion Services.

Of course, the Probation Service does recognise that addiction is a contributory factor in re-offending and that investment in addiction services to meet specific criminal justice needs may be necessary in certain specific circumstances. For that reason, the Probation Service currently provides funding to 19 addiction centres nationally to address specific addiction treatment needs. The funding commitment in 2009 to this group of addiction centres is €1,978,000. This funding allows for the provision of 384 programme places, as well as some counselling on demand in both prisons and the community as well as support and aftercare programmes. Probation Service management information indicates that this level of provision is sufficient in meeting requirements over and above HSE and other addiction services provision.

I should add that the Probation Service is currently reviewing its arrangements for the funding of drug treatment places. To that end the Service, in the interests of better coordination and integrated provision, is working closely with the HSE. The primary intention of this collaboration with the HSE is to bring about greater co-operation, co-ordination and to clarify appropriate tasks and roles with the aim of delivering effective, efficient client centred services that best protect the public purse.

Turning to the proposals received from the Probation Service in relation to the setting up of a new residential addiction treatment facility at Harristown House. As part of the consideration of the proposal my Department sought and received an evaluation from the Probation Service of anticipated Service needs for the core client group of the Service in the surrounding counties for addiction treatment facilities. The considered view of Probation Service management is that the provision of an additional residential treatment facility would not assist the Service further at this time in dealing with the addiction issues in the West, North West and Westmeath Probation Service region. Based on that needs assessment it is not proposed to open a new addiction treatment facility at Harristown House.

Finally let me say that my first priority is to ensure that my Department, through the Probation Service, continues to fund projects in the community that add value to the core criminal justice focussed work of the Service and which allow for the strengthening of community based partnerships. It is my intention to continue to fund a range of addiction and other projects into 2010 having regard to overall budgetary constraints. This will be done against the background of some €18.001 m. having been allocated in 2009 to providing funding to community based projects which has benefited over 50 such projects. Within that overall allocation 11% (almost €2m) will be distributed to the aforementioned 19 addiction treatment projects around the country.