Parliamentary Question: Juvenile Detention Centres

25th May 2004

200. Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself that there is an adequate number of places of detention for juvenile offenders; if he has plans to increase the number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15634/04]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):  There are five children detention schools which provide residential accommodation for children under 16 years who have been convicted of an offence or remanded in custody by the courts.

As the Deputy may be aware, the capacity of the Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre has recently been reduced from 26 to 12 beds. This reduction in capacity was recommended by Mr. Michael Donnellan, director of Trinity House School, in his recent review of the centre. With the reduced capacity at Finglas, the overall operational capacity of the five schools becomes 114, catering for 99 boys and 15 girls. Within this provision, the operational capacity may fluctuate from time to time to facilitate refurbishment and new developments, fire, health and safety and security concerns and to provide for young people with particularly challenging behaviour.

A key consideration for my Department in commencing the Children Act 2001 is the identification of the appropriate number of residential places required under the new arrangements. An independent international expert in residential care was commissioned to review the residential requirements for children detention schools so as to ensure that there are sufficient and appropriate places into the future. Having received the views of the Special Residential Services Board on this report, my Department is reviewing the current provision in the context of the commencement of the Children Act 2001.

The special residential services board has also recently introduced arrangements whereby all requests for beds in children detention schools from the courts are channelled centrally. Officials in my Department liaise with the board and maintain an ongoing review of the demand for beds across the sector.