Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

829. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a medical and special unit for mentally disordered challenging prisoners at Limerick Prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63819/25]

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

There are currently no medical or special units for people in custody in Limerick Prison who have a diagnosis of a mental disorder and who present with behaviour that challenges.

All people committed to prison are subject to a comprehensive medical assessment by the Prison Healthcare Team, which includes a mental health assessment. The information provided as part of this process is recorded on the person’s individual medical record on the Prison Healthcare Management System (PHMS). This information allows for the development of an individual healthcare plan for the prisoner while in custody. Where necessary, the person is referred to a forensic clinician or IPS psychologist or both. Medical and/or psychological treatment is provided as clinically indicated.

People in custody with a diagnosis of major mental disorder, in addition to those with other mental health needs, are supported on an ongoing basis by the Irish Prison Service Primary Healthcare team and Psychology Service. People with major mental disorder are also supported by in-reach psychiatric services, provided by the HSE’s National Forensic Mental Health Service. This 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.

At the current time, Limerick Prison is the only closed prison in the estate without in-reach support from the HSE's National Forensic Mental Health Service. Multi-agency meetings are held weekly to discuss the healthcare and operational needs for people in custody in Limerick Prison who present with higher needs, at higher risk, including those with major mental disorder. People in custody are accommodated within Limerick Prison based on decisions made at these meetings.

The Irish Prison Service have advised that the HSE are currently recruiting for the National Forensic Mental Health Service in reach team for Limerick Prison.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

830. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sanctioned psychologist posts, by prison including the number of vacant posts, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63820/25]

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

The role of the Psychology Service in the Irish Prison Service is to develop, deliver and manage an integrated mental health and criminogenic needs assessment and treatment service for people in custody, in line with service plans and objectives, and within established professional standards, guidelines and policy.

Psychologists are employed directly by the Irish Prison Service. The Irish Prison Psychology Service has the following authorised posts: a Head of Service, a Principal Psychologist Manager, a Principal Specialist Psychologist, 14 Senior Psychologists, 23.4 Staff Grade Psychologists and 14 Assistant Psychologists. The latter is a fixed term contract unqualified grade.

The Psychology Service has engaged in a concerted effort to improve the recruitment and retention of Psychologists. A recruitment campaign for Psychologists recently concluded, resulting in the formation of a panel and it is anticipated that the current psychologist vacancies will be filled from this panel.

Table 1 attached shows the number of sanctioned psychologists post broken down by prison. Table 2 attached shows the number of current vacant psychologists post broken down by prison.

Table 1. Number of sanctioned Psychologist posts by Prison

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

831. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners with serious mental illnesses held in the general population, who require psychiatric hospital care waiting for a bed, by prison, from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63821/25]

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

The Irish prison population is currently made up of over 5,700 people.

Everyone committed to prison is subject to a comprehensive medical assessment by the Prison Healthcare Team and a key component of this is a mental health assessment. The information provided as part of this process is recorded on the person’s individual medical record on the Prison Healthcare Management System (PHMS) and this record allows for the development of an individual healthcare plan for the prisoner while in custody. Where necessary, the person is referred to an in-reach Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist or Irish Prison Service Psychologist, or both and medical and/or psychological treatment is provided as clinically indicated.

The Irish Prison Psychology Services (IPPS) play a lead role in relation to group or individual talking therapy interventions and are part of the prison-based multidisciplinary team (MDT).

The MDT working directly to meet the mental health needs of people in custody is made up of the General Practitioners, Nurses and Healthcare Assistants within the Primary Healthcare team at the particular prison, the IPPS, and in-reach mental health services, provided by the HSE’s National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS). NFMHS is made up of Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists, supported by Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors, Community Psychiatric Nurses, and Social Workers. This team provides weekly forensic mental health sessions in prisons.

The IPPS also provide offence-related (criminogenic) assessment and intervention which frequently includes mental health and trauma-related factors. At any one time there are typically 2,100 people in custody awaiting assessment and/or treatment with a Psychologist. 600 prisoners are actively engaged with the service.

The mental health conditions of those being treated include serious mental illnesses, primarily schizophrenia spectrum disorders and other mental disorders including neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities and organic brain disorders.

The Irish Prison Service does not hold the specific data requested by the Deputy. The Irish Prison Service requests and receives some data relating to waiting lists for Mental Health Service referrals from the NFMHS. However, it is important to note that the NFMHS remains the data controller on this information.

As of 23rd September 2025, the case load of the psychiatric in-reach teams across the prison estate was 341 with 51 awaiting new assessment. There are currently 31 people on that caseload awaiting transfer to the Central Mental Hospital. The table below shows the breakdown by prison.