Prisoners in Cork awaiting transfer to Dublin's Central Mental Hospital

Almost 17% of all mental health prisoners currently waiting to transfer to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in North Dublin are being held at Cork Prison.

Data from the Irish Prison Service (IPS) shows there are 340 psychiatric patients being held in prisons across Ireland, dozens of whom are currently waiting to transfer to the CMH in Portrane.

At the end of January, 38 mental health prisoners had been waiting longer than three months to make the move, with seven waiting longer than a year. However, two of the 38 inmates were moved this month.

A spokesperson for the IPS confirmed that six of the now 36 inmates waiting for a transfer are being held at Cork Prison.

This represents 16.7% of all inmates waiting for a transfer. The figures were provided to The Echo by the IPS.

A recent inspection report into Cork Prison found “ongoing concern” for the facility’s capacity to provide care for mentally ill inmates, with a large number of operational staff identifying mental health prisoner support as an area they felt inadequately trained.

“Prisons are not mental health facilities, and the accommodation of people with major mental illness is challenging,” the IPS spokesperson said.

“The IPS takes all reasonable steps to accommodate people safely. However, a psychiatric facility will always be the most appropriate option.

“The IPS facilitates all transfers as soon as they are notified that a bed has become available.”

The CMH will have capacity to care for 170 patients across its campus once fully operational, with more than 50 beds currently unopened.

A spokesperson for the HSE confirmed that two of 18 additional beds opened at the facility in December, with the remaining 16 expected to open on a “phased basis” from the end of March.

Social Democrats Cork South Central TD Pádraig Rice said he is concerned for the wellbeing of mental health prisoners in Cork, saying these cases require a hospital setting, not a prison.

“The number of mental health patients being held in prisons has reached crisis levels,” said Mr Rice.

“People with severe mental health difficulties need to be in an appropriate facility with specialist services and supports.

“They should be diverted away from the prison system, [as] overcrowding is likely to worsen their condition.

“We need appropriate diversion measures, urgent delivery of additional beds in the CMH, vacancies filled, and additional multidisciplinary services to support prisons and the courts.”