Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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31. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the supports being provided to a person (details supplied) who is on the waiting list for admission to the central mental hospital; when the person will be admitted to the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10975/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that in-reach mental health services are made available to the persons in its custody through its collaboration with the Health Service Executive, and the National Forensic Mental Health Service. The National Forensic Mental Health Service is currently providing forensic mental health sessions in Cloverhill Prison.

The Irish Prison Service has access to a limited number of places in the Central Mental Hospital for prisoners who require residential mental health treatment. There is currently an average of 20 prisoners each week awaiting transfer to the Central Mental Hospital.

The Health Service Executive confirmed in recent correspondence that the person referred to in the Deputies question was 15th on the waiting list. This person continues to be treated under the mental health services available from the Prison In-Reach and Courts Liaison Service team.

The Irish Prison Service understands that, in view of the pressures on capacity in the Central Mental Hospital at present, the National Forensic Mental Health Service is currently managing the competing priorities of all patients who have been assessed as having a requirement for admission to the Central Mental Hospital on the basis of assessed clinical need.

The Health Service Executive has confirmed that the National Forensic Mental Health Service Clinical Team will continue to provide the best care and treatment possible in the prison environment to the person referred to. However, it is not in a position at present to give an estimate of when this person will be admitted to the Central Mental Hospital.