THE WHOLE system of treatment for hundreds of sex offenders is being reviewed as only half of those in the prisons have volunteered for a special therapy programme.
The programme aims to get offenders to accept responsibility for their crimes and to rehabilitate them and it also involves a "relapse prevention" component for when they are released.
There are 269 prisoners serving sentences for a range of sexual offences but only 128 have completed the course.
Eight men are currently undertaking the course in Arbour Hill Prison but there is no waiting list for places on the programme.
Prisoners cannot be compelled to take part in the 11-month long treatment programme which has been running for the past 14 years.
The practice has been to invite all eligible sex offenders to apply for a place when a new group is being set up.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said the programme is a "structured, offence-focused programme, employing a cognitive behavioural approach with a relapse prevention component".
It places considerable emphasis on the "therapeutic process within the group and on supporting each participant in gaining the knowledge, skills, attitudes and self-confidence necessary to live life differently and more constructively in the future".
In answer to a written Dáil question, Mr Lenihan told Fine Gael's Billy Timmins that the programme is under review.
"Options under consideration include more flexible delivery of programmes based on individual offender's risks, needs and capacity.
"The likely outcome is a package of sex offender interventions comprising group and individual programmes for a significantly larger group of offenders."
Mr Lenihan said some sex offenders initially approach the therapeutic services seeking assistance in adjusting to prison, or for help with mental problems.
"Following such interventions, offenders are often more open to looking at their sexual offending and a concentrated period of motivational work is conducted to help them address their offending behaviour and related issues," Mr Lenihan said.
"In response to such counselling, many offenders who initially might deny responsibility for their crime or deny any need for treatment, are motivated towards some process of change."
The Minister said that so far this year the psychology service in prisons has undertaken one-to-one counselling with 33 sex offenders.