Parliamentary Question: Prison Medical Service

25th February 2003

434. Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has established a working party to examine the specifics of the partnership recommended in the report of the group to review the Structures and Organisation of Prison Health Care Services, 2001, between his Department, the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Health and Children or the statutory health boards; if so, when this working party was established; and the outcome of its deliberations. [5491/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): Following the publication of the report referred to by the Deputy, a working group was established to seek to implement the agreed recommendations in the report. This working group consists of representatives of the Department of Justice, Equality, and Law Reform, the Department of Health and Children, the Irish Prison Service, and those health boards where prisons are located. The working group, under the Chair of Mr. Pat McLoughlin, Chief Executive Officer of the South Eastern Health Board, met initially in March, 2002, and has met on a number of occasions since. The group is currently examining the feasibility of developing partnership arrangements in relation to the provision of various aspects of health care to prisoners. To date there has not been any definitive outcome to the deliberations of this group.