Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

881. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of custodial sentences that have been handed down for drug possession per year from 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23697/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and through the separation of powers in the Constitution.

It should be noted that the Department does not record data relating to convictions, as this is a function of the courts.

The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.

To be of assistance I have referred the Deputy's question to the Courts Service for direct reply.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

882. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of people have served custodial sentences on foot of their third cannabis possession offence from 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23698/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Irish Prison Service aims to provide a health care service for prisoners with addictions in a structured, safe and professional way that is in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service is committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with its community colleagues and organisations. In 2023, the Irish Prison Service published its own Drugs Strategy which has the following three pillars: Inform & Educate; Detect & Reduce and Support & Treat. In addition, the Irish Prison Service recruited a National Clinical Lead for Mental Health and Addiction in Quarter 2 of 2024.

The Irish Prison Service spends in excess of €1m per annum on the provision of an addiction-counselling service in Irish prisons. Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) are the service provider. They provide prison-based addiction counselling services across the entire Irish Prison Service estate with the exception of Arbour Hill Prison and the Training Unit, where there is currently no clinical need for such a service. However, this is being reviewed.

I have been advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that they do not hold centralised data in respect of the very specific data requested by the Deputy.