On Friday Deputy Dillon invited me to consider the desirability of setting up a Borstal Institution for females and referred to the Children's Court question. As I am informed that both questions are being considered, and will be reported upon by the commission which was set up by the Minister for Education, I do not think I am expected to anticipate their report. I am not going to anticipate what their recommendations will be, as I understand the report will be ready in a couple of weeks. As regards the Borstal Institution for males at Clonmel, I would like to refer the Deputy to an Appendix to the Annual Report on Prisons for the year 1934, copies of which were laid on the Table of the House last summer. In that Appendix details were given of the system in operation in Clonmel and the arrangements for the after-care of discharged inmates. In the view of the Department of Justice the system is working satisfactorily, and I am informed this view is shared by responsible people who have made themselves acquainted with details of its operation. After discharge ex-inmates are kept under friendly supervision for a period of three years, during which reports are obtained as to their welfare from employers, clergymen, the agent for discharged prisoners, etc. In many cases the ex-inmates write to the governor or to members of the Borstal Association giving accounts of their progress. During the last ten years the percentage of ex-inmates who are known to have gone on well during the three years following their discharge has been more than 80 per cent.
In Committee on Finance. - Vote 34—Prisons (resumed).
Debate resumed on the following motion:—
Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £50,024 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1937, chun Costaisí Priosún, na Fundúireachta Borstal, agus coinneáil-suas na nGealt gCuirpthe a coinnítear in Oispidéil Mheabhar-Ghalar Cheanntair. (17 agus 18 Vict., c. 76; 34 agus 35 Vict., c. 112, s. 6; 40 agus 41 Vict., c. 49; 47 agus 48 Vict., c. 36; 61 agus 62 Vict., c. 60; 1 Edw. VII., c. 17, s. 3; 8 Edw. VII, c. 59; agus 4 agus 5 Geo. V, c. 58.)
That a sum not exceeding £50,024 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1937, for the expenses of Prisons, the Borstal Institution, and the maintenance of Criminal Lunatics confined in District Mental Hospitals. (17 and 18 Vict., c. 76; 34 and 35 Vict., c. 112, s. 6; 40 and 41 Vict., c. 49; 47 and 48 Vict., c. 36; 61 and 62 Vict., c. 60; 1 Edw. VII., c. 17, s. 3; 8 Edw. VII, c. 59; and 4 and 5 Geo. V, c. 58.)
Very good.
Mr. Boland
As regards Deputy Anthony's suggestion to have a probation officer appointed in Cork I will undertake to consider the suggestion.
Question put and agreed to.