Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the high-level mental health task force responsible for implementing a plan related to mental health or dual diagnosis challenges of those engaged with the Courts Service. [8796/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am glad that it has been possible to make considerable progress in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those imprisoned, and primary care support on release.

Last April, the Minister for Health and I, together with Ministers of State Frank Feighan and Mary Butler, established a High Level Taskforce to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system. The Taskforce is independently chaired by former Minister Kathleen Lynch.

The Taskforce has already had eight plenary meetings and has established three subgroups on 1) diversion, 2) capacity issues in the Prison Service and National Forensic Mental Health Services, and 3) community issues, including care after release. Each of the subgroups comprises of relevant experts and I understand they have each met on at least nine occasions. An interim report was submitted to the Minister for Health and myself on 22 November and I met the group before Christmas to get an update on their work.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Taskforce has engaged with a large number of relevant bodies and civil society actors including a meeting with the Chairs of Prison Visiting Committees and the Inspector of Prisons as recently as 3rd February. I understand their work is continuing and the aim is to finalise a report including an implementation plan for its recommendations early in Quarter 2 of this year.