A visiting committee is appointed to each Irish prison 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 3 years. The function of prison visiting committees is to visit, at frequent intervals, the prison to which they are appointed and to hear any complaints that may be made to them by any prisoner. The committees 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 2022 is summarised below.1

Mountjoy Prison, Dublin

In its report, the Mountjoy Visiting Committee noted that the entry of illegal substances into Mountjoy Prison continues to be a problem and has had a significant impact on staff and prisoners. The lack of access for prisoners to drug treatment programmes, counselling, and the availability in Mountjoy Prison of a drug-free wing or landing has been reported by prisoners to be a gap in any meaningful service for those with addiction difficulties. Prisoners report using drugs to ease distress from feelings of paranoia, alienation, and depression; in addition, a number of people who were drug free at the time of sentencing leave Mountjoy Prison with an established addiction to drugs gained while they were in prison.

Wheatfield Prison, Dublin

The Wheatfield Place of Detention Visiting Committee’s report observed the continuing issue of illicit drugs being thrown over the prison perimeter wall, and that this was very disruptive and caused great stress to both prison staff and prisoners. The Visiting Committee suggested that a more permanent plan/solution in dealing with the numerous State-owned lands at the back of the Prison could assist in drastically reducing drug throws. The Visiting Committee also questioned how adequate the opioid substitution therapy programme was at Wheatfield Prison and suggested that research on the success of the programme (i.e. does it give prisoners with drug issues on arrival in prison the tools to sustain them when they leave prison?) would be desirable.

Cloverhill Prison, Dublin

In its report, the Cloverhill Prison Visiting Committee noted that addiction counselling services in Cloverhill Prison continue to be very busy and face high demand. Remand prisoners are particularly vulnerable and many prisoners arrive in Cloverhill Prison with existing addiction issues; prisoners frequently refer to the long waiting time for addiction counselling services, and to the frustration that this can cause. The Visiting Committee heard that in 2022, waiting lists for addiction counselling services averaged 60 people. Consequently, the wait time for a prisoner to receive an appointment varied between 12 and 20 weeks. The Visiting Committee was concerned that this wait time appears to be growing. It recognised that several factors contribute to the length of waiting time for services, such as the increase in the number of prisoners in Cloverhill, the level of staffing within the addiction counselling service, and the availability of prison staff to ensure that prisoners can access the service. In 2022, there was one full-time counselling post in Cloverhill Prison, which was filled by two part-time counsellors. Counsellors see 5 people per day, with an average of 25 people per week. The Visiting Committee suggested that an additional full-time counselling post is urgently needed in order to alleviate the demand for this service, which is necessary for prisoners’ well-being and rehabilitation.

Arbour Hill Prison, Dublin

The Arbour Hill Prison Visiting Committee’s report noted that Arbour Hill Prison remains fully committed to ensuring that the prison remains drug free. All prisoners are fully aware that they are expected to be 100% drug free, and access to the prison’s facilities and services depends on this. Random drug testing is part of the day-to-day routine at the prison.

Cork Prison, Co Cork

The Cork Prison Visiting Committee heard that the prison’s Post Release Project continued to work within a multi-agency setting alongside the Prison Service, Education, Probation, Irish Association for Social Inclusion Opportunities, Cork Alliance, Addiction, Psychology and Psychiatry Services. The project maintained strong links with addiction and mental health services in order to ensure access for addiction assessment and counselling services. The provision of naloxone training recommenced in 2022 after being suspended in 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Loughan House, Co Cavan

The Loughan House Visiting Committee heard that face-to-face addiction and counselling sessions had recommenced in 2022 after being suspended in 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. However, during 2021, counselling staff made themselves available via a telephone-based service. Prisoners in Loughan House are permitted to use their own mobile phone, meaning that Merchants Quay Ireland addiction team specialists remained fully accessible throughout the year.

Shelton Abbey Prison, Co Wicklow

The Shelton Abbey Prison Visiting Committee’s report noted that the prison has a full-time addiction counsellor who works closely with medical, chaplaincy, and probation services. All prisoners are assessed on entry in order to ascertain whether they have current or previous addiction issues and they are offered one-to-one addiction counselling if required. In the absence of a psychology service, they are also offered general counselling if they have issues other than addiction. If they require follow-on treatment, they are referred to residential services or day services pre-release for addiction support post-release.

Portlaoise Prison, Co Laois

The Portlaoise Prison Visiting Committee heard that many prisoners had addiction issues and mental health problems and questioned whether a prison environment was suitable for some prisoners. It noted that the prison has one addiction counsellor who attends 2 days a week, and that there are long waiting lists. The Visiting Committee recommended that the addiction counsellor’s hours be increased in order to reduce this waiting list.

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.

1     Department of Justice (2024) Prison Visiting Committee annual reports 2022 [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. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/41817/