Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drug-free units within the Irish Prison Service; if he will ensure that non-drug using prisoners are not accommodated with known drug users; and if he will develop a structured approach to reducing and eventually stopping prisoners' dependency on drugs. [35696/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Prison Service continues to implement its Drugs Policy & Strategy, entitled "Keeping Drugs Out of Prison", which was launched in May 2006. This has involved the implementation of stringent measures to prevent drugs from getting into prisons while, at the same time, continuing to invest in services to reduce the demand for illicit drugs in the prisoner population as well as meeting prisoners' treatment and rehabilitative needs.

Given the large number of prisoners requiring drug treatment services, the Irish Prison Service endeavours to provide a comprehensive range of interventions, where demand is high. Drug rehabilitation programmes for prisoners involve a significant multidimensional input by a diverse range of general and specialist services provided by the Prison Service and visiting statutory and non-statutory organisations.

There are currently drug free units in Wheatfield Prison and St. Patrick's Institution. Allied to this, the Training Unit, Arbour Hill, Loughan House and Shelton Abbey are regarded as drug-free institutions. Plans are well advanced for the development of a drug free unit in Mountjoy Prison to coincide with the reopening of the refurbished C Wing. The dedication of additional drug free areas in other institutions is being pursued.

Merchants Quay Ireland provide an addiction counselling service delivering approximately 1,500 prisoner contacts per month in prisons and places of detention, where prisoners require such a service. The HSE provide consultant led in-reach addiction services to Cloverhill, Wheatfield and the Mountjoy Complex. A GP with a special interest in substance misuse operates in Mountjoy Prison and a similar service is in place in the Midlands/Portlaoise complex. Drug Treatment Pharmacist Services are available in Mountjoy, Dóchas, Midlands and Portlaoise Prisons.

Methadone Substitution treatment is available in 9 of the 14 prisons and places of detention (accommodating over 80% of the prison population). Clinical studies have found specific positive outcomes as a result of methadone maintenance in prison, including inter alia, reduced drug and heroin use, better links to treatment agencies in the community and improved mental and physical health through accessing treatment.