THE quantity of drugs available in Cork Prison has fallen sharply since inmates were forbidden physical contact with visitors and the recreation yard was covered according to the prison visiting committee.
In its annual report - one of seven released yesterday - the committee notes that the ban on physical contact was supported by the High Court in November.
Reports were released yesterday for Arbour Hill, Cork, Fort Mitchel (Spike Island), Loughan House (Blacklion), Portlaoise, Shelton Abbey and the training unit at Mountjoy.
Fears that a drug problem could arise in Portlaoise Prison are expressed by its visiting committee. It says the maximum security at the prison had helped to keep out drugs but, if the peace process leads to the release of subversive prisoners, a drugs problem could be brought into the prison along with new types of offenders.
The committee also complains at what it regards as excessive delays by the Department of Justice in telling prisoners if they would be granted temporary release.
While we can understand there may have to be delay in some eases, we cannot understand why it should go for weeks or months without the offender receiving a reply one way or the other.
It also warns that the complete absence of employment or craftwork "will inevitably lead to frustration and boredom and finally to confrontation with management and staff".
At Arbour Hill, where sex offenders are jailed, a second sex treatment programme was begun during the year, but prisoners had to be transferred from Wheatfield to make up the numbers. "Those who would undertake to join the programme for their own devious purposes must be guarded against", the committee warns.
Forty one offenders absconded from Loughan House during the year; 49 broke the terms of their temporary release and six escaped from escorts. Towards the end of the year, the committee says, "Sky TV was installed for the benefit of offenders."