572. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Justice the work of his Department and that of the Prison Service to develop enhanced prison-based addiction treatment services to support those with addictions and dual diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15656/25]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice: The Programme for Government commits us to establishing high-dependency units within the Irish Prison Service to address severe mental health and addiction challenges and to hiring more therapeutic and medical staff, including psychiatric and addiction nurses, GP’s and psychologists.

All people committed to prison are subject to a comprehensive medical assessment by the Prison Healthcare Team, which includes a mental health assessment that supports the development of an individual healthcare plan for prisoners while in custody.

The Irish Prison Service multidisciplinary team working directly with the mental health needs of people in custody, includes staff from the Irish Prison Service Primary Healthcare team and Psychological Service, and staff from in-reach mental health services, provided by the HSE’s National Forensic Mental Health Service. The latter provides weekly forensic mental health sessions led by consultant forensic psychiatrists, supported by non-consultant hospital doctors, community psychiatric nurses, and social workers.

Additionally, to support rehabilitation, reduce reoffending and assist with reintegration into society, people in custody have access to a growing range of medical and rehabilitative services. These include methadone substitution treatment, counselling, psychological intervention, peer to peer support programmes, psycho-education and the Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme provided by Merchants Quay Ireland, available in the Medical Unit in Mountjoy Prison.

Treatment provided to people in custody who may be struggling with addiction is in line with the National Drug Strategy, the Irish Prison Service Drugs Strategy 2023-2026, the Irish Prison Service Health Needs Assessment and the High Level Task Force on the mental health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system.

As the contracted delivery partner, Merchants Quay Ireland delivers addiction counselling and support within the prison estate. 20 authorised addiction counsellor posts, support individual and group work service provision to prisoners.

The Irish Prison Service also works closely with Alcohol Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous who provide support to people in custody across the prison estate.

The Health Needs Assessment (HNA) for the Irish Prison Service was published in May 2023. This was the first comprehensive health assessment undertaken for the prison service. The HNA 1st Annual Progress Report was published in October 2024 and outlines the progress in implementing recommendations from May 2023 to June 2024.

On foot of the recommendations cited in the HNA, the Irish Prison Service has recruited a Clinical Lead for Mental Health and Addiction. This appointment is especially important as the clinical lead is dedicated to developing mental health and addiction care and services within prisons and liaising with community services to ensure continuity of care.

The High Level Task Force (HLTF) on Mental Health and Addiction published their final report in September 2022. The report identified where further improvements can be implemented in order to enhance the treatment available to those with mental health and addiction difficulties within the criminal justice system. It outlined 61 recommendations to be implemented from 2022 to 2027.

The IPS is consulting with HSE Dual Diagnosis Leads in relation to piloting a dual diagnosis service in Cork Prison, in accordance with HLTF recommendations. The service would provide for two referral pathways including mental health and social inclusion.

The First Annual Progress Report of the HLTF was published in February 2024 covering September 2022–September 2023. Work remains ongoing to monitor and further progress the recommendations of the HLTF.