Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
57. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to confirm that each of the prisons have a system in place which provides a full health check to a prisoner when admitted including screening for HIV, Hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35667/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised by officials in the Irish Prison Service that all people committed to prison undergo a comprehensive medical assessment on committal. People are asked about their history and risk factors for HIV, Hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections and can be offered testing for these conditions if appropriate. Infectious disease screening is available on request in all prisons and is managed within prison primary care in line with General Medical Service practices in the community. The majority of all infectious disease care in prisons, as within the community, is provided by primary care teams. Conditions which exceed the capacity of any primary care team, including prison primary care team can be referred for secondary/tertiary care via the HSE.
There are weekly consultant-led in-reach Genito-urinary medicine and Infectious Disease (GUIDe) clinics at Cloverhill and Wheatfield Prisons. There is also a weekly in-reach nurse-led hepatology clinic at Cloverhill, Wheatfield and Mountjoy Prisons and Dóchas Centre dealing largely with Hepatitis diagnosis and management. A nurse led in-reach service for Hepatitis is provided to Cork Prison every three to six weeks, and Limerick Prison on an ‘as required’ basis. There is an in-reach nurse-led HIV clinic every three to six months on an ‘as required’ basis at the Dóchas Centre.
As such, the only closed prisons without this in-reach service at present are Arbour Hill, Castlerea, Midlands and Portlaoise Prisons. The introduction of a permanent GP to Castlerea Prison recently will enhance the provision of care for prisoners with infectious diseases and the need for this service in Arbour Hill Prison is deemed low at the current time. In-reach services are currently unavailable to people in custody in Midlands and Portlaoise Prisons as this service is not available through Portlaoise General Hospital at the current time. Work is ongoing to consider alternatives in these prison locations.
The Irish Prison Service is cognisant of the risks that infectious diseases pose in a custodial setting and has established a number of forums which support the management of infectious diseases. The National Infection Prevention and Control Team is responsible for the monitoring of serious infections among people in custody and potential outbreaks in prisons. They provide expert advice on the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections. They develop Standard Operating Procedures aimed at improving prison hygiene and infection prevention measures to enhance the safety of staff and people in custody. This team have excellent relationships with counterparts in the HSE and wider Public Health arena and are in regular communication regarding emerging national and international trends and associated resource requirements.
In addition, the National Infection Control and Surveillance Committee is a multi-disciplinary group representing healthcare, operational staff and staff representatives. The purpose of the Committee is to act in an advisory, auditing and reporting capacity to develop best practices in relation to all aspects of infection control management.
In relation to staff training, both prison officers and healthcare staff receive infectious disease training as part of their induction training and regular updates are incorporated as part of the Continual Professional Development programme for prison healthcare staff.
Finally, in relation to peer to peer support initiatives, Red Cross volunteers within prisons have collaborated with prison primary care on a number of screening projects. These include supporting HIV screening, Hep C screening and screening for TB infection among the prison population. This peer-to-peer model has proven invaluable in increasing the level of participation in screening initiatives. Peer-to-peer engagement assists with reducing the stigma attached to screening for infectious diseases and communication to the prison population is through seven different languages. This peer-to-peer initiative is now embedded in the workings and culture of the Irish Prison Service and plays a key role in the promotion of infectious disease screening in prisons.
Given the increased prevalence of infectious diseases amongst the prison population and the risks associated with the spread of infectious diseases in a custodial environment, prison primary care teams are vigilant around the diagnosis and management of HIV, Hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections.
The Irish Prison Service is satisfied that there is an adequate level of infectious disease care available to people in custody and that there are appropriate safeguards in place for early detection should the needs of people in custody or the risks posed by infectious diseases increase.
