848. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of staff, by institution, who have been suspended pending investigation for bringing illegal substances into the prison system in the past five years. [48363/23]

Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice: I can advise the Deputy that preventing the incursion of contraband items into prisons remains a major challenge. Irish Prison Service staff work tirelessly to take steps to reduce the flow of substances of abuse into our prisons. Security measures to deter the obtrusion of dangerous contraband into prisons include: the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, enhanced CCTV monitoring, strict control of visits, drug-swabbing equipment similar to airport-style explosives swabbing devices, random and targeted searches and joint operations with An Garda Síochána.

As part of this all visitors and prison staff are searched when entering a prison.

Further, the Irish Prison Service continues to research and develop opportunities to install new security equipment and new security measures. Intelligence-led searching and detection practice means that a significant number of drugs are detected and intercepted before reaching the prison population.

It must be recognised that the prison environment mirrors the same range of activity and challenges arising in many communities grappling with the scourge of harmful drug use. In order to meaningfully tackle the issue of drug-use and demand in prisons, the Irish Prison Service must work in partnership with all agencies across the criminal justice sector, additional support agencies active in Irish prisons, and relevant community-based organisations to reduce the demand. The Irish Prison Service aims to publish a new Drug Strategy by the end of 2023 setting out a series of goals to advance work towards reducing the harm of substances of abuse in the prison environment.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service sets high standards in respect of its staff and requires that all staff carry out their duties with integrity, commitment and professionalism at all times. In circumstances where the conduct of a staff member falls below the high standards expected, this is treated with the utmost seriousness in accordance with the Civil Service Code of Discipline. Allegations or claims of inappropriate behaviour by Prison Service staff are taken very seriously and are fully investigated. Any issues arising in respect of staff and their conduct in the Irish Prison Service are dealt with through the normal disciplinary process.

I have been advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that no staff have been suspended pending investigation for bringing illegal substances into the prison system in the last five years.