Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the quantity of drugs seized in Mountjoy Prison in 2008 and to date in 2009; the number of places available for drug treatment programmes in Mountjoy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31457/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Up to and including 13 September 2009 there have been 696 drug seizures within the Irish prison system this year, with 302 of those in Mountjoy Prison. From May 2008 (when new security initiatives were first introduced) to 31 December 2008, there were 351 drug seizures within the Irish prison system, with 192 of those in Mountjoy Prison. Prior to May 2008 seizure of drugs was recorded under the generic description "prohibited articles" and a detailed breakdown is not readily available.

At present, any person entering Mountjoy Prison giving a history of opiate use and testing positive for opioids is offered a medically assisted symptomatic detoxification if clinically indicated. Patients can, as part of the assessment process, discuss with healthcare staff other treatment options. These may include stabilisation on methadone maintenance for persons who wish to continue on maintenance while in prison and when they return to the community on release. Prisoners who on committal are engaged in a methadone substitution programme in the community will, in the main, have their methadone substitution treatment continued while in custody. In Mountjoy, in excess of 220 prisoners are currently on methadone substitution treatment.

The Medical Unit in Mountjoy Prison has 9 spaces specifically allocated for a therapeutic drug free programme. There is capacity for approximately 70 prisoners a year on the programme. This programme is 6 weeks in duration and includes involvement from both prison based staff and external community agencies. Its aim is to assist prisoners in achieving drug free status. However, that is not to say that this is the only detox programme available in the prison system. Up to the end of July this year, 1200 prisoners have undergone other detox programmes.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department and the Irish Prison Service strive to ensure that the provision of healthcare to prisoners is of a standard consistent with that which applies in the general community. Given the large number of prisoners requiring drug treatment services, the Prison Service endeavours to provide a comprehensive range of such services in all closed prisons not just Mountjoy.

Overall the programmes in place in our Prisons seek to reduce the demand for drugs within the system through education, treatment, rehabilitation services for drug-addicted prisoners. Particular initiatives include, inter alia, the provision of detoxification, methadone maintenance, education programmes, addiction counselling and drug therapy programmes. The Prison Service has committed significant investment in recent years in responding to addiction issues in the prison system.

These programmes continue to be expanded and enhanced, in partnership with community based services, notwithstanding the current difficult economic climate. In consultation with the HSE community addiction services, the Irish Prison Service makes every effort to ensure that prisoners engaged in treatment programmes are linked to community addiction services on their release.

A very significant development has been the awarding of a contract for the provision of Addiction Counselling Services to Merchants Quay Ireland. The Addiction Counselling Service is, in conjunction with other developments, now delivering nearly 1000 hours per week of prisoner access to addiction counselling across the prison system.

The allocation of additional Nurse Officers and Prison Officers to Dedicated Drug Treatment Teams in prisons with significant needs has improved the service quality in prisons. The provision of additional specialist sessions in addiction psychiatry, is also significantly improving the quality, coordination and availability of drug treatment in prisons.

Methadone substitution treatment is provided in eight of the 14 prisons (accommodating over 80% of the prison population). 2,014 prisoners were in receipt of methadone maintenance during 2008. The comparable figure for 2007 was 1,840.

Prisoners have access to a range of medical and rehabilitative services such as psychosocial services and 'work and training' options which assist in addressing substance misuse issues. The Irish Prison Service is seeking to enhance and expand specialist treatment at all prisons where demand is high for drug treatment services. (It is intended to expand drug treatment services in Castlerea, Portlaoise and Midlands in the coming months.)

As previously stated the priority of my Department and the Irish Prison Service is, notwithstanding present resource difficulties, to ensure that an appropriate range of treatment services is available to all prisoners requiring same.