I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 to 416, inclusive, together.
The promoter concerned undertook to provide this programme to the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy Women's Prison on a voluntary basis for a trial period and indicated that she would accept the Prison Service's evaluation of its merits. I have been informed by the Director General of the Irish Prisons Service that he had this programme examined following the trial period in consultation with the Prison Governor in Mountjoy Prison and the heads of the prison medical services and the prison psychology service. Their collective view is that the proposal in question would not represent value for money for the service.
I am aware of the petition referred to by the Deputy. However, it should be borne in mind that vulnerable prisoners are not necessarily best placed to objectively assess the merits of any therapeutic approach. I would take into account any objective scientifically validated study which would assist in establishing the effectiveness of any therapeutic clinical approach with prisoners. In seeking to assess the merits of the approach being proposed by the CMSP, I have sought to elicit any such studies but to date none has been obtained. I am not aware of the evaluation of complementary medical treatment referred to in the second part of this question.