Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): Further to my answer on 22
November 2011, consideration is still ongoing and I intend that the question will be before the
Government for decision as soon as possible.
Proposed Legislation
494. Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality, further to
Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 22 November 2011, the date on which he will publish a
general scheme of a Bill to enable ratification of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7762/12]
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): Subject to Government approval
and other priorities, the General Scheme of an Inspection of Places of Detention Bill, which
will include provisions to enable ratification of the UN Optional Protocol, is expected to be
published mid 2012.
Prison Service
495. Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality, further to
Parliamentary Question No. 449 of 22 November 2011, if he will provide an update on his
officials examination of the possibility of introducing formal risk assessment procedures for all
new prisoners upon admission; the date on which he will publish their findings; and if he will
make a statement on the matter. [7763/12]
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): I have been informed by the Irish
Prison Service that the Director General is in the process of establishing an expert working
group to examine the matter. It is expected that this Group will report to me by the end of
April 2012.
Prison Staff
496. Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of
nurses and medical orderlies employed in each of the prisons here. [7764/12]
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): I can advise the Deputy that the
Irish Prison Service provides general healthcare services for the assessment, treatment and care
of prisoners comparable to that available to those entitled to General Medical Scheme services
in the community and which are appropriate to the prison setting. Primary care is the model
of care through which healthcare is delivered; it is the linchpin of the prison healthcare system.
The primary care service is provided using a multidisciplinary model and intra-disciplinary
working processes and strives to provide proactive healthcare with a focus on health awareness
and preventative medicine.
Each prison has a complement of nurses, medical orderlies and attendance by a prison doctor
commensurate with the healthcare needs and prison population of the institution. The Irish
Prison Service currently employs 3 full-time and 15 part-time doctors. In addition, a total of
135.5 nursing staff are employed, details of which are set out in the table:
Prison Complex Nurse Chief Nurse Officers Nurse Officer Medical Orderly
Managers
Arbour Hill 1 5
Castlerea 1 8.5
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