Written answers

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Department of Justice and Equality

Prison Service

Photo of Patrick CostelloPatrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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309. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the findings from the public consultation on the review of prison rules which ended in September 2021 will be published; the timeline for the next steps in the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4089/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that work is continuing on the review of the Prison Rules 2007. The review is taking account of the updated European Prison Rules, which were published in 2020, and also considering changes within the Irish Prison Service, the prison system and also changes that have occurred within the wider criminal justice system over the past 15 years.

The public consultation phase of the review was completed in September 2021 and the submissions are currently being evaluated. It is intended to publish a summary of the submissions received under the public consultation phase once all submissions have been reviewed and considered.

The initial review phase will be completed by the end of Q1 2022 and this will include completing stakeholder engagement. The policy proposals needed to enable the relevant amendments to Prison Rules 2007 will be developed with a view to then drafting the Statutory Instrument needed to amend the Prison Rules.

Photo of Patrick CostelloPatrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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310. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reports that have been submitted to her office by the current Inspector of Prisons; and the number that have been published. [4090/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in how it carries out its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons and the Inspector plays a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of our prison system.

The current Inspector of Prisons, Ms. Patricia Gilheaney, was appointed in May 2018.

Please see below a breakdown of the number and types of reports submitted to my office, and the numbers published to date from the years 2018 to 2022.

Type of Reports Submitted to the Minister Published Reports
Death in Custody Reports 49 43
Thematic Functional Reports* 12 8
Annual Reports 3 3
Strategic Plan 1 1
Governance Documents 3 3
Other Investigation Reports** 1 1
Other reports *** 1 1
Total 71 61

*These include 12 COVID- 19 Thematic Inspection reports and a three day monitoring report of Mountjoy Women’s Prison (Dóchas Centre).

**This is a Report by Inspector of Prisons into allegations of wrongdoing in the Irish Prison Service.

*** This is a report on a COVID 19 Staff Survey carried out by the office of the Inspector of Prisons between 30 April and 16 May 2021. The survey sought to gather prison staff experiences of working in prisons during the pandemic.

All such published reports are available on the website of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons.

Furthermore, the Inspector has indicated that she is currently finalising the investigation report carried out under Section 31(2) of the Prisons Act 2007 in relation to matters concerning the Dochas Centre and I expect to receive the final report shortly.

Photo of Patrick CostelloPatrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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311. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the proposed timeline on the removal of Covid-19-related restrictions on the prison system. [4091/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Prison Service has continued to review and modify Covid-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic.

Restrictive measures have been modified in line with the various announcements made by Government and in line with advice from Public Health/HSE and the Irish Prison Service National Infection Control Team.

In 2021, the unwinding of restrictions was linked to the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme in prisons. As a result of the successful roll out of the programme to all prisons, the Service was able to unwind a significant amount of measures in all locations with the exception of Cloverhill Prison which did not have a critical mass of prisoners vaccinated at the time.

In October 2021, following the latest advice from Government, the Prison Service commenced a significant unwinding of measures in line with similar action taken in the community.

This included:

- the recommencement of physical visits in all locations (except Cloverhill Prison),

- the removal on the restriction preventing the mixing of prisoners from different areas within the prison,

- the return of constructive activities to full capacity,

- the recommencement of prisoner temporary release programmes, and

- the resumption of religious services.

The resumption of these services was contingent on the continuation of a number of infection control measures to ensure the health and safety of both staff/service providers and prisoners.

A number of other restrictions were retained at that time including the continued suspension of non-essential prison visits, the continued suspension of group gatherings including award ceremonies and presentations, the continued need to maintain social distancing and the wearing of face coverings in line with both public health guidance and Government restrictions in place in the community.

The Irish Prison Service introduced a Covid-19 Contingency Plan which is implemented during an outbreak of the virus within a prison. Under this Plan restrictions are introduced to prevent the spread of Covid within the prison and these include the suspension of physical visits, the closure of staff gyms and the introduction of a restricted regime for prisoners in the infected area while mass testing is underway.

The Irish Prison Service has been managing a number of Covid-19 outbreaks in prisons since November 2021 which have resulted in a significant number of prisoners testing positive for the virus.

The Service intends to conduct a further review of remaining restrictions once all outbreaks have been successfully concluded and the unwinding of these measures will be determined by the level of risk posed to prisons at that time.

Photo of Patrick CostelloPatrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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312. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prison officers by prison in the State; and the number of those which have CPR training, in tabular form. [4093/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to obtain the information requested by the Deputy in the time permitted. Relevant information has been sought and I will send it to the Deputy directly when it has been compiled.

Photo of Patrick CostelloPatrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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313. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the drug rehabilitation services currently offered in each prison. [4094/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service have a range of programmes, support services and through-care options for prisoners who wish to address their substance misuse. While drug treatment services are provided in all closed prisons, the same type of programmes are not offered in open prisons as a condition of transfer to an open prison is that the prisoner is drug free.

The Prison Service advise me that It is considered that approximately 70% of prisoners who are committed to custody have addiction issues. It is the policy of the Irish Prison Service that, where a person committed to prison gives a history of opiate use and tests positive for opioids, they are offered a medically assisted, symptomatic detoxification, if clinically indicated.

Patients can, as part of the assessment process, discuss other treatment options with healthcare staff; those treatment options may include stabilisation on methadone maintenance for persons who wish to continue on maintenance while in prison, and when they return to the community on release.

I am further informed that the Irish Prison Service engages Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) to provide a prison-based addiction counselling service. This service includes structured assessments and evidence-based counselling interventions, with clearly-defined treatment plans and goals.

The Merchant Quay Ireland service provides a range of counselling and intervention skills related to substance misuse and dependency. These skills include, motivational interviewing, motivational enhancement therapy, twelve step facilitation programme, cognitive behavioural therapy and harm reduction approaches. Prisoners are offered one to one counselling and group work interventions. Merchants Quay Ireland counsellors work to address presenting issues and to explore the underlying reasons for drug use and how this impacts on the prisoner and wider community.

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