Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent comments made by the chairman of the Mountjoy Visiting Committee that prisons have become overcrowded and that the rate of drug taking is high; the steps he is taking to deal with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40138/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the comments made by the Chairman of Mountjoy Visiting Committee.

As the Deputy will appreciate the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts into its custody and does not have the option of refusing committals. It is the case that there has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. This situation is particularly apparent over the past 12 months during which time the total number in custody has increased by 330. This represents an 9% rise in the number in custody. On 6 November 2009 there were 3,998 prisoners in custody.

Since 1997, the Irish Prison Service has been engaged in an extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure which has involved both the modernisation of the existing estate and the provision of extra prison spaces. A new accommodation block for 123 prisoners recently opened at Castlerea Prison. Furthermore, current projects will also provide the potential for an additional 750 prison spaces during 2009 and 2010 by means of:

a new block in Portlaoise Prison which will have the potential to accommodate approximately 200 prisoners and which has recently started to accommodate prisoners;

a new block in Wheatfield Prison which will also have the potential to accommodate approximately 200 prisoners which is due to open by end of 2009;

opening the separation unit in Mountjoy Prison which will have the potential to accommodate 50 prisoners due to open by end of this month;

a new wing at the Portlaoise/Midlands complex will have the potential to accommodate 300 prisoners. Work is due to commence in 2010.

In the longer term, the Government remains firmly committed to replacing the prisons on the Mountjoy complex with modern prison accommodation at Thornton Hall. Building new prison facilities at Thornton Hall on a green field site will open up new opportunities for the development of structured regime activities that support rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners.

It is acknowledged that drugs present a major challenge to the Irish Prison Service and in this context, the Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs out of Prison was launched in May 2006. The implementation of this Policy & Strategy has seen an intensification of efforts in the prison system to eliminate the availability of illicit drugs within prisons including:

Tighter control and monitoring of prisoner visits in all closed prisons.

New visiting arrangements in most closed prisons, with visitors required to be pre-approved by the Governor and required to provide identification on each visit.

Greater use of screened visits.

Greater vigilance in examining mail by prison censors and searching of other items entering the prison.

Increased random searching of cells and their occupants.

Stricter searching of all persons committed to custody and prisoners returning from court, temporary release, after visits or on receipt of intelligence.

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.

Installation of nets over exercise yards to prevent access to contraband items, including mobile phones and drugs. Use of phone detectors and phased installation of telephone blocking technology.

In addition, a number of new security initiatives have been introduced in all closed prisons including:

The introduction of enhanced security screening for all persons (visitors and staff) entering our prisons.

The establishment of a drug detection dog service within the Irish Prison Service involving approximately 30 handling teams.

The establishment of Operational Support Units dedicated to and developing expertise in searching and gathering intelligence on illicit material being hidden inside our prisons; they will be available in addition to the normal prison staff and can target specific security problem areas.

The Body Orifice Security Scanner (BOSS) chair was introduced by the Irish Prison Service in early 2008 and to date eight chairs have been installed.

The new security screening at prison entrances and the measures introduced have had considerable success in preventing the flow of and assisting in the capture of contraband such as illicit drugs. The battle will be an ongoing one in which I an determined to take whatever practical measures are possible to thwart illegal activity. There will be no easing off in relation to the security measures already in place and that enhancements and improvements will continue to take place in the future.

As the Inspector of Prison states in his recently published 2008 Annual Report, the new security measures have significantly impacted upon the availability of drugs in prison. However, the reality is that as long as there is drug misuse in the community this will be inevitably reflected in a prison setting. That said, the Irish Prison Service continues to work to implement its Drugs Policy and Strategy, which also includes continued investment in services within prisons to reduce the demand for illicit drugs in the prisoner population as well as meeting prisoners' treatment and rehabilitative needs.