Health in Prison
IPRT believes that responsibility for the provision of healthcare should be transferred from the IPS to the HSE. In addition to this, IPRT believes that those with mental illness should be diverted away from the criminal justice system and should be treated within a community setting, where possible.
This section includes posts on health in prison, including mental health and drug policy.
High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction – 1st Annual Progress Report (September 2022-2023)
20th February 2024
On 15 February 2024, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health published the first annual progress report of the High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction. The progress report covers the period between September 2022 - and September 2023 and was completed in December 2023.
Irish Prisons and COVID-19: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic
13th September 2022
As Ireland emerges from the emergency phase of the pandemic, there are many lessons for the authorities in regards the management of COVID-19 within prisons. In this briefing, IPRT makes nine recommendations for action.
UK: Addressing alcohol and drug-related deaths within the criminal justice system
14th January 2022
A new UK report entitled “Protecting lives: a cross-system approach to addressing alcohol and drug-related deaths within the criminal justice system” presents the joint findings of the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAPDC) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) on alcohol and drug-related deaths in the criminal justice system.
IPRT Submission to the 70th Pre-Sessional Working Group of the CESCR
7th January 2022
This is the Irish Penal Reform Trust’s first submission to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The submission makes the overarching point that Ireland is over-reliant on imprisonment as a response to social issues and socio-economic disadvantage.
High vaccination rate among prisoners in Ireland but the harsh impacts of COVID-19 restrictions in Irish prisons remain a concern
14th December 2021
The first international review exploring how prisoners and prison staff are included in national vaccination plans has found that Ireland performs well in terms of our prison vaccination rate when compared to many countries. However, this masks the reality that ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in Irish prisons are having a severely detrimental impact
Irish Prisons and COVID-19: One Year On
12th April 2021
One year on from the imposition of COVID-19 restrictions, this IPRT briefing outlines what we have learned from the response to the pandemic and the steps that are now required in order to meet human rights obligations and address the effects of COVID-19 on people in prison and their families.
HIQA: Evidence for vaccination of those living or working in crowded conditions
31st March 2021
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published a report to inform the national policy on the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to those aged 18-64 years living or working in crowded accommodation, where self-isolation and social distancing are difficult to maintain. This includes prisoners and prison staff.
COVID-19 experience highlights positive and timely change is possible in Ireland’s prison system - IPRT
25th January 2021
PRESS RELEASE: Improvements made during pandemic threatened by risk of return to ‘old normal’ according to PIPS 2020 report.
IPRT featured in radio piece shortlisted for Headline Award
16th November 2020
A student exploration of mental illness and disability in the prison system in Ireland, featuring IPRT, has been shortlisted for the Headline Student Journalist Award 2020.
UK: Avoidable natural deaths in prison custody
5th October 2020
This new report aims to identify how natural deaths in prison might be prevented, where possible, and end of life care managed with dignity and compassion. This report is especially relevant as prisons face new challenges regarding healthcare amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
