A visiting committee is appointed to each prison in Ireland under the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 and the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925. Members of the 12 visiting committees are appointed by the Minister for Justice for a term not exceeding three years. The function of prison visiting committees is to visit, at frequent intervals, the prison to which they are appointed and hear any complaints that may be made to them by any prisoner. They report to the Minister for Justice regarding any abuses observed or found, and any repairs which they think are urgently needed. Prison visiting committee members have free access, either collectively or individually, to every part of the prison to which their committee is appointed. Information from prison visiting committee reports relating to drug use in prisons for 2019 is summarised below.1

Mountjoy Prison, Dublin

In its report, the Mountjoy Visiting Committee noted that the risks of substance abuse are the most pervasive and persistent problem spoken about on a weekly basis in the prison by staff and prisoners. Physical outbursts, injury to prisoners and on occasion staff, fear and intimidation in prison, and involving family members in the community, are all a feature of this major challenge for the prison service. A number of factors, including lack of sufficient drug treatment programmes, insufficient capacity in staffing resources in therapeutic services, and safe drug-free accommodation while in prison and on release, are militating against those who might wish to avail of drug treatment programmes. The committee observed the need for a multiagency integrated approach to rehabilitation prison services identified in the strategic plan 2018–2020, and that this requires greater coordination and prioritising, particularly in the provision of services for vulnerable prisoners and those with addiction difficulties.

Dóchas Centre, Dublin

The Dóchas Visiting Committee noted in its report that the issue of illegal substance use continues to be a problem. There have been several instances where women have brought drugs into the prison on return from temporary release which were then passed on to other women in the centre. These resulted in some women becoming ill, having seizures, and on occasion being hospitalised. The issue of drug use continues to be a major cause of concern to the prison governor and staff and appears to be on the increase.

Wheatfield Prison, Dublin

The Wheatfield Place of Detention Visiting Committee’s report observed that the Wheatfield yards are large spaces. Although the yards are covered with netting in order to prevent drugs and objects being thrown over the perimeter wall, this continues to be a considerable difficulty for the authorities in Wheatfield Prison. The committee recommended that more netting and a solution to the security of the perimeter wall are essential to prevent illicit contraband entering the prison. The committee also noted that illicit drugs continue to be a serious and ongoing difficulty both for the prison authorities and also for prisoners and their families. Despite the best efforts of the prison authorities, scanners, sniffer dogs, X-ray and bags searches, and the perimeter wall being monitored daily, drugs continue to enter the prison.

Cloverhill Prison, Dublin

In its report, the Cloverhill Visiting Committee noted that the issue of drugs and security measures at Cloverhill remains a deep concern. In particular, access to drugs from one source, namely the wall in the exercise yard of the prison, continues to be a considerable problem. The committee proposed that additional serious and concentrated resources be made available to deter these attempts to supply illegal substances to inmates.

Cloverhill has a large number of prisoners with drug-related conditions and the numbers of prisoners attending the methadone clinic continues to be high. While figures can vary, the prison medical centre reported that attendance numbers can range from 150 to 190 inmates. Because of the vital role of addiction counselling in the recovery and future rehabilitation of prisoners, the committee recommended, as a priority, that the number of counselling staff be increased to allow prisoners to avail of the service at the earliest possible stage of their remand period.

Arbour Hill Prison, Dublin

The Arbour Hill Visiting Committee’s report noted that incidents relating to drugs within the prison remained exceptionally low in 2019, and complimented the prison management and staff on this matter. Arbour Hill remains fully committed to ensuring that the prison remains drug-free. All prisoners are fully aware that they are expected to be 100 per cent drug-free and access to the prison’s facilities and services depend on this. Random drug testing is part of the day-to-day routine at the prison.

Cork Prison, Cork

The Cork Prison Visiting Committee’s report heard that one of the big issues affecting Cork Prison in 2019 was the availability of drugs within the prison. The committee suggested that the purchase of a full-body scan X-ray should be investigated, as this might help to reduce the number of drugs coming into the prison. 

Shelton Abbey Prison, Co. Wicklow

The Shelton Abbey Visiting Committee’s report noted that a full-time addiction counsellor was appointed in 2017, who is respected by offenders and regarded as a trusted listener, and who continues an induction/awareness meeting with all new committals. A number of addiction-related programmes took place at Shelton Abbey during 2019.

Midlands Prison, Co. Laois

The Midlands Prison Visiting Committee was informed that a general practitioner (GP) addiction specialist holds weekly sessions as part of the drug treatment service within the prison. In addition, the addiction counselling service in the prison is supported by Merchants Quay Ireland and includes one-to-one counselling and assessments. Nevertheless, the committee noted that there are never more than two addiction counsellors available in the prison – the largest prison in Ireland – at any one time and suggested that this is woefully inadequate and must inevitably lead to delays and support in the treatment of some very vulnerable prisoners. 

1 Department of Justice (2021) Prison Visiting Committee annual reports 2019 [Arbour Hill Prison, Castlerea Prison, Cloverhill Prison, Cork Prison, Dóchas Centre, Limerick Prison, Loughan House, Midlands Prison, Mountjoy Prison, Portlaoise Prison, Shelton Abbey Prison, Wheatfield Prison]. Dublin: Department of Justice. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33654/