New drugs counselling service planned for prisons

The director of the Prison Service, Sean Aylward, has outlined measures to the country's prison officers aimed at tackling the growing drugs problem in Irish jails.

A co-ordinator is to be appointed by the Eastern Regional Health Board to oversee the development of counselling services in Dublin prisons.

The position of special travelling officer at assistant governor level will also be created to aid staff in developing the counselling skills in prisons throughout the rest of the country.

An estimated 60% of prisoners in Ireland's jails are chronic drug addicts.