22nd February 2007
77. Mr. M. Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Youth Justice Service of his Department will take over responsibility for the juvenile detention centres currently managed by the Department of Education and Science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6795/07]
Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): Responsibility for the management of four children detention schools - Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre, Oberstown Boys School, Oberstown Girls School and Trinity House School - will transfer to the Irish Youth Justice Service of my Department on 1 March 2007. This will follow the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Children Act 2001, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
In addition to the transfer of operational budgets from the Department of Education and Science, significant capital investment of over €140 million in the detention schools has been secured as part of the National Development Plan 2007-2013. I am confident that this investment and the Government's other reforms to children detention services will significantly improve the accommodation in the schools and end the practice of using adult prison places for the detention of children.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.