Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

501. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he plans to publish the prison health needs assessment; if he will provide a timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6768/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A Health Needs Assessment Steering Group was established in 2018, following a memorandum of understanding between the then Ministers for Justice and Health to take forward an independent review of the current and future delivery of appropriate provision of healthcare services to persons in custody.

The Health Needs Assessment, both for the Irish Prison Service as a whole and for the 12 individual prisons within the Prison Service estate, which was undertaken by independent consultants Crowe Ireland, commenced in November 2019. The report of this assessment, following deliberations between the Prison Service and both Departments over its recommendations, is now completed.

The report was sent to both the Minister for Health and to me for review and it is our intention to publish the report once that review is completed.