John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners on methadone treatment in each prison in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53255/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it provides a health care service for prisoners with addictions in a structured, safe and professional basis in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service continues to be committed to and predominantly involved with the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations.

I am further informed that the following table shows the number of prisoners in receipt of methadone treatment across the prison estate for the period 2015 – 2019. Please note that the figures for 2019 are provided for the period of 1 January 2019 – 31 October 2019. I am advised that the cumulative statistics for 2019 will not be available until January 2020.

*01/01/2019 to 31/10/19

Finally I am informed that while prescribing levels for methadone have fluctuated over the past 5 years, the profile of the numbers of prisoners availing of the different treatment options - i.e. detoxification, maintenance or stabilisation - has remained consistent, with 35% availing of detoxification, 64% availing of maintenance and 1% availing of the stabilisation programme.