846. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the average wait time for prisoners to see an addiction counsellor, by institution, within the Irish Prison Service system; the average prison time served, by institution; and the number of prisoners, by institution, who will see an addiction counsellor prior to their release. [48361/23]

Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice: The Irish Prison Service provides a health care service for prisoners with addictions in a structured, safe and professional way in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations.

It is the policy of the Irish Prison Service that, where a person committed to prison gives a history of opiate use and tests positive for opioids, they are offered a medically assisted, symptomatic detoxification, if clinically indicated.

Patients can, as part of the assessment process, discuss other treatment options with healthcare staff and those treatment options may include stabilisation on methadone maintenance for those who wish to continue on maintenance while in prison, and when they return to the community on release.

The Irish Prison Service also engages Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) to provide a prison-based addiction counselling service across the entire Irish Prison Service estate (with the exception of Arbour Hill Prison where there is currently no clinical need for such a service, though this will be reviewed on an ongoing basis). The addiction counselling service includes structured assessments and evidence-based counselling interventions, with clearly-defined treatment plans and goals.

The MQI service provides a range of counselling and intervention skills related to substance misuse and dependency. These skills include motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy, a twelve step facilitation programme, cognitive behavioural therapy and harm reduction approaches. Prisoners are offered one to one counselling and group work interventions.

The Irish Prison Service and MQI prioritise those that are in greatest clinical need, and work together as part of a multi-disciplinary team to manage the waiting list. MQI team leaders review caseloads with each addiction counsellor monthly to ensure that cases are closing appropriately.

In the larger prisons the average waiting period can be up to twelve weeks, sometimes longer. If there are concerns raised following a medical assessment, a prisoner will be prioritised. In addition, where waiting lists are high, MQI can offer group counselling as an alternative to one-to-one sessions to give access to as many people as possible.

There are many local variables unique to each prison which can influence how long a prisoner could remain on the waiting list to see an addiction counsellor. These factors include access to the prisoner, if they are on remand, their expected date of release, where in the prison they reside (e.g. are they on protection or non-protection), and the prisoners individual work schedule.

To manage these unique prison by prison variables, MQI are working on bespoke options. For example, in Cloverhill Prison, MQI in conjunction with the IPS, are preparing to pilot a new triage model. This triage model aims to direct the prisoner, following assessment, to the most appropriate follow up e.g. one-to-one on site counselling, one-to-one counselling utilising online systems, or onsite group support. This will be implemented before the end of this year, and will run for an initial six-month period, followed by an evaluation. MQI also provides a full time phone line in the prison estate to provide more immediate support and reduce pressure on waiting lists.

The data requested by the Deputy relating to the number of prisoners, by institution, who will see an addiction counsellor prior to their release is not collated. Prisoners who are closer to release are regularly prioritised and MQI aim to identify available services in the community to ensure there is continuity of care and that a release plan and harm reduction information can be imparted prior to departure.

It will also be of interest to the Deputy to know that the Prison Service is currently working to publish a new “Drug Strategy 2023 – 2026” by the end of 2023. This strategy will re-affirm the commitment to working steadfastly to reduce the harm of drug use within the prison population. This strategy will set out practical goals to increase support for security measures to prevent access, education and information programmes to deter trafficking, and promote drug treatment and counselling services in collaboration with government and non-government partners to help tackle the insidious threat posed by illegal drug use and trafficking.

In addition, the Irish Prison Service is developing a bespoke, peer-led recovery model to support people in custody who face addiction difficulties. Part of this peer led recovery model will provide for co-occurring difficulties associated with mental health and addiction.