Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2024
78. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the amount spent on anti-psychotic medication for inmates in the Irish Prison Service in 2023, 2022 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22073/24]
View answer79. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the number of prescriptions for anti-psychotic medication for inmates in the Irish Prison Service in 2023, 2022 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22074/24]
View answer80. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the amount spent on anti-depression and anxiety medication for inmates in the Irish Prison Service in 2023, 2022 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22075/24]
View answer81. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the number of prescriptions for anti-depression and anxiety medication for inmates in the Irish Prison Service in 2023, 2022 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22076/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 78 to 81, inclusive, together.
My officials in the Irish Prison Service have advised that the information requested by the Deputy is not recorded centrally and a manual examination of each individuals record would be required. Such an examination would be voluminous in nature, require a significant amount of staff time and resources and could not be warranted, especially with the current demand on resources to meet the needs of people in custody.
I can assure the Deputy that everyone is medically assessed on committal and as required throughout their time in custody by doctors experienced in providing care in a custodial setting. People in custody receive appropriate medical support including medication on an ongoing basis by the Prison doctors and healthcare team.
Medications are prescribed as clinically indicated and these prescriptions are often tailored to the prison environment.
Those suffering from mild to moderate mental illness can often be catered for by IPS healthcare staff within the prison whereas those who require an increase level of care and specialism can be referred to the in-reach consultant-led psychiatric teams.
The Irish Prison Psychology Service provides an integrated service to people in custody. Specifically, this means the Psychology Service is responsible for both mental health and criminogenic (offence related) assessment and interventions.
The Irish Prison Psychology Service works primarily through a layered care model, providing primary, secondary and tertiary level mental health care to people in custody. A layered care model provides clients with access to a variety of responses, from minimal interventions such as whole population approaches with the Red Cross and primary care mental health interventions, to more specialist mental health and personality disorder treatments.
At any one time approximately 60% of referrals to the Psychology Service are specifically in relation to the mental health of people in custody. These referrals include; mood and anxiety disorders, stress related disorders, disorders of personality and behaviour, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) including Complex PTSD, self-harm and suicidal behaviour, substance use, eating disorders, psychosis and schizophrenia, addiction, dementias, cognitive decline, traumatic brain injuries, impulse disorders, and disorders of sexual preference.
In addition, the Service works to support people who present with various other intellectual, behavioural and emotional challenges for which different treatment approaches, or indeed multiple approaches, may be required.
People in custody can also access a range of Psychological Supports and Addiction Counselling and the Irish Prison Service is exploring options to provide additional supports to people with addiction and mental health issues, including through the 'Recovery College' model which provides education, training and workshops and the introduction of an Addiction Studies course in Prisons.
