New dual mental health and addiction programme to start in Cork Prison

The dual diagnosis programme will run on a pilot basis for Cork Prison inmates with both a mental illness and a substance use addiction.

The first mental health and addiction programme in Irish jails is due to start in Cork Prison early next year after getting funding in Budget 2025.

The dual diagnosis programme will run on a pilot basis for inmates with both a mental illness and a substance use addiction.

It is part of a National Dual Diagnosis Model of Care which was launched by the HSE in May 2023.

It envisages 12 adult dual diagnosis teams nationally and four adolescent teams.

Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler told the Dáil €2m has gone into the service so far.

She said the recruitment for adult teams in the Mid-West and Cork, and adolescent teams in Dublin, are at an “advanced stage”.

Ms Butler said an additional €600,000 in Budget 2025 would help set up two new teams and enhance existing ones.

The breakdown includes:

• Two whole-time (full time) equivalent appointment for CHO (community health area) 3, covering Limerick, Clare and North Tipp to enhance an existing team;
• One appointment for CHO 9, covering Dublin North/North Central/North West, for adolescent drug service SASSY;
• One appointment for CHO4 for Cork Prison;
• Three appointments for CHO7, covering Dublin West/South Central/South West/Kildare/West Wicklow, for adolescent drug service YoDA;
• Three appointments for CHO5 for a new team in Waterford 

In a statement, the Irish Prison Service said: "The IPS healthcare management team will meet with CH04/HSE South and the national Clinical Lead in Dual Diagnosis in the near future to discuss how this funding should be best utilised. 

"These discussions will identify how to best allocate the resources taking account of the prison environment. In addition, the recruitment of the appropriate dual diagnosis specialist will also take place with the service expected to be in place in Cork Prison in Q1 2025."

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Details provided by Ms Butler were in response to a question from Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward, who asked her when the inpatient dual diagnosis service in Keltoi centre in Dublin would reopen.

Ms Butler said her department is committed to a national dual diagnosis centre at Keltoi: “It is intended to be used for rehabilitation of those with serious and significant mental health difficulties and substance use disorders. It will accept referrals from across Ireland.”