Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if qualified medical staff are available in prisons at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34851/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Primary care is the model of care through which healthcare is delivered; it is the linchpin of the prison healthcare system. The primary care service is provided using a multi-disciplinary model and intra-disciplinary working processes and strives to provide proactive healthcare with a focus on health awareness and preventative medicine.

Each prison has a complement of nurses and/or medical orderlies and attendance by a prison doctor. Doctors attend prisons on a daily basis Monday to Friday, they are also available on call outside of their contracted hours of attendance. Weekend cover is also provided by doctors in all closed prisons. A complement of nursing staff and medical orderlies are on duty on a 24 hour basis in all closed prisons.