Taskforce established to tackle challenges faced by prisoners with mental health and addiction issues

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said it is important to provide appropriate healthcare and respond to the needs of vulnerable, sometimes seriously ill, people who interact with the criminal justice system.

A new taskforce to consider the mental health and addiction challenges faced by some people interacting with the criminal justice system has been established.

The taskforce, which will be chaired by Cork TD Kathleen Lynch, will seek to ensure the critical mental health needs for people in prison are met and addiction treatments are provided.