Sinn Féin spokesperson on Addiction, Recovery and Wellbeing, Thomas Gould TD, has received confirmation that there are no addiction nurses employed in any Irish prison.

Teachta Gould said:

“In 2008, seven addiction nurses were employed directly by the Irish Prison Service. The state has gone backwards and now there are none. The Minister for Justice can claim all the supports she wants but the reality is that this is another service for vulnerable people lost because of Fine Gael’s record in government.

“There are currently more people waiting for addiction services in our prisons than accessing them. 600 people are receiving treatment, 800 are on a waiting list. Recently, we heard that often people finish their sentences before they are even given a chance at addiction treatment.

“These are people who want support, they want help and they want to enter recovery. What is the point in spending tens of thousands of euro on sending people to prison if we’re not giving them the best chance at avoiding reoffending? I am deeply frustrated that so many people who want to make changes and enter recovery are being denied that opportunity.

“I know that the nurses working in prisons are doing great work under tremendous pressure. I know the same can be said for the addiction counsellors from MQI and other staff but the reality is that there was once addiction nurses available directly employed by the Irish Prison Service and now there is not.

“The knock-on impact of addiction and prison are huge. They impact people, families and communities. The Committee heard today about the stigma faced by some communities. The most vulnerable communities are still suffering the consequences of austerity and Fine Gael have no intention of changing that.”