Status of plans to enhance inter-agency arrangements to ensure that accommodation, welfare and health supports for prisoners are in place prior to their release.

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of plans to enhance inter-agency arrangements to ensure that accommodation, welfare and health supports for prisoners are in place prior to their release.
REPLY



One of the commitments made in Rebuilding Ireland, Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is that the State will enhance inter-agency arrangements to ensure that accommodation, welfare and health supports for prisoners are in place prior to their release. 

An inter-agency protocol, developed by the Irish Prison Service in consultation with the Health Service Executive, Department of Employment and Social Protection and the City and County Managers Association, is now in place.  Under Rebuilding Ireland, the Irish Prison Service funds the Irish Association for Social Integration Opportunities to provide 11 Resettlement Coordinators in its closed prisons.  Resettlement Officers liaise with single-points-of-contact in local authorities in advancing applications for housing supports.

The Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, is delivering permanent housing solutions with appropriate wrap around supports for rough sleepers and long-term users of emergency accommodation. A dedicated Housing First stream is in place for prisoners and other persons convicted before the courts with high support needs who would otherwise be homeless on release from custody.