Parliamentary Question: Drugs in Prisons

5th May 2004

67. Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals he is considering to reduce drug use in prisons; if his attention has been drawn to the comments made by a person (details supplied) questioning whether the proposals advocated by him will achieve their stated purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12662/04]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):  I am aware that many differing views have been expressed on how to tackle the long standing problem of drug abuse in our prisons. The programme for Government commits me to creating a drug free prison system. This includes treatment and rehabilitation, elimination of supply and the introduction of compulsory drug testing for prisoners.

A group consisting of Irish Prison Service management, prison governors, health board staff together with relevant clinicians has drafted proposals for a new prison drugs policy. This policy would, in so far as practical, seek to apply consistent regulation and operational structure to the provision of drug treatment services both in the general community and in prison. I am currently considering this draft policy and examining whether it would be effective in ridding our prisons of drugs.

I also expect to receive shortly from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel a new set of prison rules which will make provision for, among other things, mandatory drug testing. Such drug testing can, at an individual level, identify those persons engaged in the use of intravenous drugs within the prison environment, and can, at an institutional level, provide prison management with important information on the presence of drugs in prisons. I am satisfied that mandatory drug testing has a valuable contribution to make to the overall strategy for tackling drug misuse among prisoners.