Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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314. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners in the general population in prisons diagnosed with psychosis; if the prisoners are receiving the appropriate treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50889/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is the aim of the Irish Prison Service to provide safe and secure custody, dignity of care and rehabilitation to prisoners for safer communities and to provide health, mental health and psychological services to those on an equivalent basis to that available to those eligible for General Medical Services in the community.

In data from Kennedy et al.'s work published in the early 2000s, prevalence rates of psychosis were 3.9% amongst men committed to Irish prisons; 7.6% amongst men on remand and 2.7% amongst sentenced men. Rates of psychosis was 5.4% amongst women in custody.

Contemporary prevalence data does not currently exist in relation to the number of people in custody in Ireland with psychosis. However, the Government’s mental health policy, outlined in Sharing the Vision, recommends a mental health needs analysis of the prison population. This work is currently being progressed.

The Irish Prison Service multidisciplinary team works directly with the mental health needs of people in custody. This team is made up of the Primary Healthcare and Psychology, in addition to in-reach mental health services, provided by the HSE’s National Forensic Mental Health Service. The latter involves the provision of weekly forensic mental health sessions led by consultant forensic psychiatrists, supported by non-consultant hospital doctors, community psychiatric nurses, and social workers. The current case load of National Forensic Mental Health Service in-reach teams across the prison estate is 341 with 51 awaiting new assessment.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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315. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners waiting for a court date to determine their fitness for trial under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50890/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Management of the courts, 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 given the separation of powers in the Constitution. As such, it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister, to comment on any category of cases or the management of information relating to same.

To be of assistance I have had enquires made with the Courts Service and am informed that where a matter is adjourned for hearing of a determination of fitness for trial, the matter is recorded on the case management system as an adjournment for hearing/trial. It is therefore not possible to distinguish between this type of hearing and other hearings. As a result, it is not possible for the Courts Service to provide a report on the number of persons awaiting a court date for determination of fitness for trial.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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316. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners transferred to a facility (details supplied) for mental health supports in the past two years; the reason they did not received treatment from the Central Mental Hospital; the cost of treatment in the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50891/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.

I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.