The figures released give an indication of the challenge facing the Irish Prison Service in addressing drug misuse amongst prisoners. The Irish Prison Service Drug Policy, which was launched in May 2006, aims to tackle the supply of drugs into our prisons, provide adequate treatment services to those who are addicted to drugs and ensure that developments in the prisons are linked into the community. Significant progress has been made in implementing the policy.

In relation to the figures published, it is not possible to establish the length of time the prisoner was in custody before being tested, therefore some of the figures will relate to the use of drugs prior to imprisonment. Also, it is only since 1 October 2007 that we have had the power to take random mandatory drug tests of prisoners. Drug testing had, therefore, primarily been targeted at those prisoners that were suspected of taking drugs or had a known history of drug misuse and the figures should not be seen as an indicator of drug misuse across the wider prisoner population.

There are between 450 and 500 persons on supervised methadone maintenance programmes in our prisons at any time. These prisoners can initially be tested twice weekly, but would tend to be tested at least once a week. This could amount to up to 30,000 tests per year and the remaining number of positive tests could relate to a relatively small cohort of prisoners.

In June 2007 the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Brian Lenihan TD, secured the resources necessary to introduce a package of new security measures which will target the routes whereby contraband such as drugs are trafficked into our prisons. These measures include; the establishment of a drug detection dog service involving approximately 30 staff and an appropriate number of dogs; the establishment of an Operational Support Group dedicated to and developing expertise in searching and gathering intelligence on illicit material being hidden inside our prisons; the introduction of enhanced security screening for all persons entering our prisons.

I am confident that the full implementation of the Drugs Policy, coupled with these enhanced security measures, will have a significant effect on the number of prisoners misusing drugs in our prisons.

Background information

Drug testing of prisoners takes place in the following contexts:

1. Where requested by Courts in relation to pending proceedings;
2. Where prisoners are in drug free units/institutions or open centres;
3. Where prisoners are participating in methadone maintenance programmes;
4. For management/operational reasons.

Drugs Policy

The Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy - Keeping Drugs Out of Prisons was launched in May 2006. An external monitoring group has been established to monitor the implementation of the Strategy and will meet early in March 2008.

This Irish Prison Service Drugs clearly sets out the steps required to tackle the supply of drugs into our prisons, provide adequate treatment services to those who are addicted to drugs and ensure that developments in the prisons were linked into the community. The policy involves a multifaceted approach towards tackling the problems associated with substance misuse in the prison environment.

There is particular focus on the need to assist prisoners who indicate a serious desire to tackle their drug problem and the policy states that appropriate treatment for substance misuse related problems should be available regardless of where a prisoner is located.

Specific developments in the area of drug treatment include:
· A tender for 24 addiction counsellors to cover all Prisons was awarded to Merchants Quay Ireland in 2007.
· Extra Nurse Officers and Prison Officers have been allocated to Dedicated Drug Treatment Teams in prisons with significant needs.
· Additional Consultant Psychiatrist in Addictions and Registrar prisons sessions have been established and resourced, significantly improving the quality, coordination and availability of drug treatment in prisons.
· A counselling psychologist dedicated to drug treatment has been appointed at Mountjoy Prison.

Measures to reduce supply
In order to eliminate access to contraband, a number of security initiatives have been introduced targeting staff, visitors and prisoners. These measures include:

· The establishment of a drug detection dog service within the Irish Prison Service involving approximately 30 staff and an appropriate number of dogs.
· The establishment of an Operational Support Group dedicated to and developing expertise in searching and gathering intelligence on illicit material being hidden inside our prisons;
· The introduction of enhanced security screening for all persons (prisoners, visitors and staff) entering our prisons.

Other steps being taken to deal with this problem include:
· Use of modern cameras and probe systems which assist in searching previously difficult areas such as hollow chair or bed legs, under floor boards and other cavities; and
· Use of phone detectors and phased installation of telephone blocking technology.

In addition, the Prison Rules 2007 came into operation on 1 October last and give effect to Section 35(2)(j) of the Prisons Act 2007 which provides for 'testing prisoners for intoxicants, including alcohol and other drug'.

Mandatory drug testing provides information on trends in drug misuse, enables the identification and referral of drug abusers to treatment programmes, enables enhanced focusing of resources and acts as a deterrent to drug misuse. Mandatory drug testing will also serve to provide important information to prison management that will contribute significantly to decision-making in relation to the management of individual prisoners sentences.

Mandatory drug testing currently takes place in the Training Unit, St. Patrick's Institution, Castlerea Prison, Loughan House and Shelton Abbey. All prisoners must be drug free to attend an open centre and the intention is to roll out a programme of testing to the remaining institutions during 2008.