Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Irish Prison Service has plans to devise specific strategies or policies for groups of vulnerable prisoners including disabled prisoners, elderly prisoners and Traveller prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14624/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012-2015 has at its heart the development of specific strategies for younger prisoners, women, older prisoners, sex offenders, protection prisoners, violent offenders and prisoners suffering from mental illness.

The Prison Service has committed to taking a number of strategic actions over the period of its Strategic Plan including:

- the Development of specific interventions for all older prisoners in line with national health strategies; and

- engaging with the HSE to develop collaborative programmes designed to ensure a seamless transition for the return of the older prisoner back to the community.

In relation to prisoners with disabilities, all cases are assessed on an individual basis and resources are put in place to ensure the prisoner receives interventions specific to their disability. All newly built prisoner accommodation, such as the blocks in Wheatfield and Midlands Prisons, have specific cells designed to accommodate prisoners with physical disabilities.

The Irish Prison Service is in the initial stages of developing a strategy to tailor responses to the particular needs of the Traveller community. This group of prisoners has been identified as requiring enhanced welfare, education, social and health related supports as part of a planned programme of interventions.