(Cavan) asked the Minister for Education (a) whether any boys have been actually transferred from Marlborough House Remand Centre to Finglas and, if so, how many, of what age, and when; (b) whether any teacher or trained social worker, or trained person of any kind is employed at Marlborough House; if so, what their qualifications are; (c) whether any improvements have recently been made to the physical surroundings at Marlborough House and, if so, if he will give details; (d) what arrangements have been made to provide (i) occupational and (ii) recreational facilities in Marlborough House; and (e) how often a trained psychiatrist visits Marlborough House to assess and advise on treatment for any of the boys.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Remand Centre.
28.
Boys who may be sent on remand to Marlborough House are retained there for a brief period only pending their next appearance in the court. They may be transferred to St. Laurence's Remand Centre in Finglas only through the court. The numbers on remand in Marlborough House and in St. Laurence's Centre on 15th March, 1972, were two and 13, respectively.
The services referred to at (b) and (e) in the Deputy's question would have little relevance in an institution to which boys are committed for a period of only one month. The position is that boys on remand—with rare exceptions—are now being sent to St. Laurence's Remand Centre, which is very well provided with trained professional staff, psychological and psychiatric services, occupational and recreational facilities and so on.
In addition to remandees one month detainees may be sent to Marlborough House. There were six detainees there on the 15th March.
Our present efforts in relation to Marlborough House are directed towards phasing it out altogether.
(Cavan): Am I correct in taking it from the reply that boys who are sent on remand to Marlborough House for a month are then brought before the court and that the justice who is dealing with them has not the benefit of any professional report on these boys before deciding what to do with them?
I cannot say whether that is so. I presume that the justice will have the benefit of the advice of the probation service and of the Garda who would be familiar with the circumstances of a particular case.
(Cavan): I take it from that reply that the Parliamentary Secretary is admitting there is no trained social worker or teacher at Marlborough House and that no trained psychiatrist attends the place?
If the Deputy means that the justice would not have the benefit of professional advice from Marlborough House, he is correct, but he will appreciate that most of these boys spend only a very short period at Marlborough House before appearing in court, probably only a day, and in those circumstances the Deputy can recognise that the probation officers and gardaí who would be familiar with a boy's environment would be in a better position to advise the court than would a person who simply had a very short opportunity of assessing the boys.
(Cavan): I know I will not get an answer, but what I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary is whether he considers it highly desirable that, in the case of boys of a comparatively young age who are to be dealt with by a judge who will have to decide whether to send them to prison or to a corrective institution or whether to let them go free, this judge should have the benefit of the report of a psychiatrist to enable him to make up his mind? Am I right in thinking that there is no trained person—teacher, trained social worker or psychiatrist—at Marlborough House?
It is important to state as well, as I think I stated in my reply, that Finglas operates as a remand and assessment centre and the vast majority are sent there and are given the benefit of both assessment and advice in that area. However, in so far as the Deputy's question relates specifically to the minority in Marlborough House for the short period of their stay and to professional advice excluding that of the Garda, the answer is yes. Nevertheless, even though this refers only to a very small number, I still acknowledge that it is serious, and even though the Garda advice is there I can only say the Department is making every effort to ensure that the best possible advice will be available to the court, particularly, and that this will be phased out as quickly as possible.
(Cavan): When the Parliamentary Secretary refers now to Marlborough House as an assessment centre, would he say who assesses what, and will he close it down?
I referred to Finglas.
(Cavan): No, he referred to Marlborough House.
If I did, I did not mean to.
In view of the recommendations of the Kennedy Commission, would the Parliamentary Secretary say what is the objection to closing it?
There is no objection in the Department of Education.
What are the obstacles to closure?
There are administrative problems in other areas that have to be overcome.
But not in Marlborough House? It could be closed tomorrow?
If appropriate facilities were available elsewhere, but not just immediately.
How soon?
As soon as possible.