The results of measures to combat drug use in Irish prisons will take time to emerge, the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said today.
He said although figures from today's Irish Timeson drug use in prisons paints a "disturbing picture" the result of the security package introduced last July "clearly hasn't impacted yet in terms of figures".
Mr Lenihan said that enhanced security screening for people entering prisons and the creation of a sniffer-dog unit with around 30 staff would help reduce the amount of narcotics entering prisons.
However, the Minister also said the Government needed to focus on treatment for drug-using prisoners as well.
Mr Lenihan said new developments included the introduction of 24 addiction counsellors, extra nurse officers and prison officers, and additional consultant psychiatrists and counselling.
Brian Purcell, director general of the Irish Prison Service, said reports that inmates in the Republic's prisons have tested positive for drugs 40,000 times over the past three years give an indication of the challenge facing prison officers.
He added he was confident the drugs policy will have a "significant effect" on the number of prisoners misusing drugs in Irish prisons.