asked the Minister for Justice when the recommendations of the Kennedy Report as they affect his Department will be implemented.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reformatory and Industrial Schools.
13.
The recommendations of the Report of the Committee on Reformatory and Industrial Schools Systems, as they affect my Department, are contained, principally, in chapter 6 of the report, in reference to Saint Patrick's Institution, and in chapter 10 of the report, in reference to jurisdiction over children and young persons.
As regards Saint Patrick's Institution, renovation of the existing accommodation is well advanced, a new educational unit is in operation for over 12 months and a specially designed programme is being followed under the auspices of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. In addition to Shanganagh Castle, a further semi-open place of detention at Loughan House, Blacklion, County Cavan, has been established, and special education is provided in both these centres. The acquisition of sites for smaller places of detention to enable Saint Patrick's to be ultimately replaced is being actively pursued.
Implementation of the recommendations on jurisdiction over children and young persons would require new legislation. This is necessarily a lengthy process. The matter is under consideration in consultation with the other Departments concerned and through various inter-departmental committees.
May I take it that the Minister is committed to implementation of the report as it affects his Department?
Certainly, in so far as its recommendations are feasible and desirable, I am very positively in favour of having it implemented as soon as possible.
Would the Minister consider raising the age of criminal responsibility as a matter of urgency?
That question is being considered at the moment within my Department but there would be certain legal consequences flowing from a change in that direction. These have to be examined and the consequential legislation has to be considered. This is not just a simple matter of, by a stroke of the pen, raising the age of criminal responsibility. There are a lot of considerations which will flow from that. I am aware of the representations that have been made in support of making this change and the matter is being examined as thoroughly and as speedily as possible.
Do I take it that the Minister is not satisfied with the present age of criminal responsibility?
No, I would like to see it raised.
I should like to ask the Minister how many trained teachers are involved in teaching in Blacklion and St. Patrick's and if they have any special training for teaching in penal institutions?
I have not got the number of teachers who are teaching in these institutions. I am not aware that any special form of training is available to qualify teachers to teach in such institutions. The people who are teaching have been seconded by the appropriate vocational education authorities and are fully qualified, technically, in their particular spheres.