Parliamentary Question: Juvenile Detention Centres

13th November 2001

474. Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has consulted his relevant ministerial colleagues with a view to the urgent provision of a juvenile detention centre with particular reference to recent juvenile crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28055/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): As is provided for under the terms of the Children Act, 2001, I will provide separate detention facilities for 16 to 17 year old boys and girls who are committed to custody by the courts either on remand or under sentence. The Act was the subject of extensive consultations across a large number of Departments and the provision of these detention facilities is now the direct responsibility of the Prison Service. Two such facilities are to be provided, one in Cork and the other in the Dublin area. The provision of these facilities has been identified as a priority by the Prison Service.

Preliminary work has already commenced on the Cork centre on a site adjacent to Cork Prison. With regard to the Dublin centre, the Prison Service has in recent months been actively seeking a suitable location for the facility. It recently advertised seeking suitable sites and received a number of responses which are being examined.

It is intended to complete this stage of the process in the near future and I expect construction to commence next year. While there have been no recent consultations with my ministerial colleagues regarding this phase of the project they, and their respective Departments, will be kept informed and consulted as required on an ongoing basis.