Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the figures of those currently in prisons (details supplied) who were previously in industrial schools or other institutions and are presenting in prison with mental health issues; and the services they are offered to deal with these issues. [38276/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested is not recorded. The Deputy may however be interested in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 14 on Thursday 1st December, 2011 on the issue of mental illness in our prisons.

The prevalence of mental illness is significantly higher among prisoners compared to the general population and that the mental health problems suffered by prisoners range from mild to severe. There is a strong argument that persons with severe mental illnesses who are involved in minor offences should be diverted away from the criminal justice system and measures have been undertaken to progress such an approach. However if a serious crime such as a homicide is involved, the issue has to be addressed by the criminal justice system Furthermore we also have prisoners properly convicted and imprisoned for serious offences who may develop mental illness after their imprisonment. Depending on the nature and severity of that illness the question has to be determined, as with any illness, whether it can be appropriately treated in a prison environment or whether a transfer to a designated centre is required.

A study undertaken in 2003 by the National Forensic Mental Health Service found that there is an excess of those with severe mental illness in all parts of the Irish prison population. The report estimated that 3.7% of male committals, 7.5% of males on remand, 2.7% of sentenced males and 5.4% of female prisoners should be diverted to psychiatric services, while as many as 20% of male committals and 32% of female committals needed to be seen by a psychiatrist.

In 2006 the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy published its report "Vision for Change". That report recognised the pivotal role of primary care in addressing the mental health needs of the population and noted that it is widely recognised that 90% of mental health problems can be dealt with in primary care without referral to a specialist mental health service. In each prison primary care is the model of care through which healthcare is delivered; it is the linchpin of the prison healthcare system and where a prisoner experiences a mental health issue the prison doctor is usually the first point of contact. The Central Mental Hospital National Forensic Mental Health Service provides 20 consultant led in-reach sessions weekly by arrangement at all Dublin prisons and also at Portlaoise and the Midlands Prisons. Specialist in-reach services are in place for consultant led mental health sessions in the remaining prisons.

The World Health Organisation has awarded a "Health in Prisons Best Practice Award 2011" to the recently opened High Support Unit in Mountjoy Prison. The High Support Unit is a 9 bed facility opened in the Medical Unit of Mountjoy Prison in December 2010. It provides expert, supportive, short term input for prisoners who are in an acutely disturbed phase of a mental illness or require increased observation for a physical ailment, which has attendant increased risks. It provides a more controlled and supportive environment for a vulnerable prisoner as a short term intervention. The Irish Prison Service are exploring the possibility of expanding on this initiative by opening similar Units in other prison institutions.

There are prisoners who should more properly be treated in some form of therapeutic environment. The Criminal Law (Insanity) Acts 2006 and 2010 provides for the transfer of prisoners to the Central Mental Hospital.

The existing arrangements do give rise to problems. An interdepartmental group has being designated to examine the issue of people with mental illness coming into the criminal justice system and this is in line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Review Group which were approved by Government last July. My officials are consulting with the Department of Health on the arrangements involved including the terms of reference and an announcement will be made shortly.