A new report has found the drug problem in Irish prisons is as serious as ever and may be getting worse.
Official Department of Justice policy is to keep jails drugs free but the report claims current efforts to eliminate the availability of drugs to prisoners are 'unrealistic'.
The report, which is being launched today by the Drugs Policy Action Group, suggests there is irrefutable evidence that many incarcerated drug users continue to take drugs in prison.
It also claims many prisoners start using drugs in jail, or graduate to harder substances.
The group acknowledges improvements in prison medical services for drug users, but warns poor conditions generally in Irish jails - as well as a lack of rehabilitation services - are contributing to the drugs culture in prisons.
Inadequate policies have seen prisons also become recruiting centres for membership of organised gangs, the report says.
Group chairperson Sean Cassin says current drugs policy is fragmented, under-developed and poorly resourced.
Radical improvements are required in the level of treatment and rehabilitation offered within the prison system, Mr Cassin added.
