asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the remarks of a district justice in Dublin that there was a lack of corrective institutional treatment for teenage girls in the country; and what steps are being taken to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Corrective Treatment for Girls.
26.
I had not seen the reported remark until my attention was directed to it by the Deputy. It is not apparent what the justice has in mind and as he may have been referring to age groups which are the concern of the Department of Education I am asking him for his views.
In the age group 17-19 with which my Department is concerned there have been so few girls before the courts on criminal charges and so very few convicted of offences which would normally carry sentences of imprisonment that it would be quite impractical to expect the State to provide additional institutions to look after them. The rare committals in this 17-19 age group serve their sentences in prison.
Ad interim, while making his inquiries about the need for treatment of the 17 to 19 age group, which the Minister says is the concern of the Minister for Education——
I will take the matter up in their case as well.
It would have been reassuring if the Minister had said so in his original answer.
The question is being raised with the district justice.