The availability of drugs within Limerick Prison has been described as a source of concern.

A report published by a visiting committee to the prison warns the availability of drugs "poses a high risk" to inmates who enter drug free, and as a result, there is a strong possibility that a number of those inmates could leave the prison addicted.

To tackle the problem, the committee has called on the Minister for Justice to employ full-time sniffer dogs to be located at the point of entry to the prison within the prison.

. Despite the problem, Governor Tadgh O'Riordan and his staff were commended in the report for their "continued work of stemming the drug flow", and "the increase in electronic monitoring" throughout the prison.

Other recommendations to curb drug use were the utilisation of ultrasound scanners and the speedy introduction of new search facilities.

The committee also expressed concern about the female wing.

They reported that the maximum bed capacity of 12 has been exceeded excessively on all visits and that offenders were being transferred to the wing, even though it was operating at 50% over capacity.

They recommended that the wing be maintained at it's 12-bed capacity to ensure less pressure on staff and offenders in this confined area.

The committee noted the marked increase in foreign nationals in custody, which has led to translators being provided by the governor to aid communication.

Staff and services were commended for the empathy shown to foreign nationals while in custody.

Also noted was an increase in prisoners with psychiatric illnesses entering Limerick Prison.

The committee was concerned of the possibility that the prison was being used as a containment area for such ill persons who would be better treated in a community setting.

Consequently, an outreach centre in the community to enable treatment of inmates with mental health issues - post release - was recommended in the report.

The committee was satisfied that the staffing level of the Probation Service has increased in line with the committee's recommendations of 2006.

"We are happy to note that the probation officers have continued their educational input to offenders by expanding the lifers group and providing an alcohol offending program to female offenders," the report stated.

The upgrading of the educational and medical wing was also welcomed.

The catering department at the prison was found to be of the "highest standard of cleanliness and hygiene," and they were satisfied that the upgrade to the kitchen is complete, following a 2004/2005 recommendation.