Parliamentary Question: Drugs in Prison

21st November 2000

375. Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason he has refused to involve the community or voluntary sector on the steering committee in relation to the drug treatment needs of prisoners in view of the drugs crisis that exists in our prisons and the failure of the statutory authorities to respond effectively; if he will urgently review this matter and invite a suitable representative from the voluntary or statutory sector as a full member of the steering committee. [26717/00]
 
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): The steering group referred to by the Deputy was established, at my request, by the Director General of the Irish Prisons Service at the end of 1999 to urgently progress the development of drug treatment services in the prison system.
The group, which is chaired by the director general, consists of senior prison staff, representatives of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Prisons Psychology Service, Probation and Welfare Service, Prisons Education Service, the Director of Prisons Medical Services and several nominees of the Eastern Regional Health Authority.

Direct membership of the steering group was sought by a number of community and voluntary organisations and the steering group met with three of these groups on 30 May 2000. Although the steering group considered the issue of voluntary and community representation at length, it was not able to agree to this proposal. However, the group did feel that a more appropriate development at this juncture would be full discussions, at reasonable intervals, between the steering group and these representative groups and the establishment of local liaison systems at individual prison level. The governors of Mountjoy Prison, Cloverhill Prison, St. Patrick's Institution and the training unit have agreed to establish local liaison groups with relevant community interests to facilitate dialogue and throughcare for persons treated in prison for drug dependency and with a view to enhancing the partnership approach to this issue.