asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the difficulties existing in the matter of accommodating recalcitrant boys in detention centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Detention Centres Accommodation.
29.
Mr. R. Burke
Since the closure of Marlboro' House the Department no longer operate any detention centre in the sense of the term used in the legislation. Such centres were intended for the committal of children for a month at a time as a purely punitive measure and this procedure is not now considered to be of sufficient rehabilitative value to warrant the maintenance of such centres. However, the Department do operate special schools for young offenders to which the Deputy may also be referring.
The great majority of boy offenders requiring residential care can be catered for in the special schools, which provide an educational programme in an open setting designed to change the boys' attitudes and behaviour and to enable them to become responsible members of society.
In the light of the experience gained at the new Finglas assessment centre and elsewhere, it is now being represented to the Department that there is a small group of boys who are disturbed to the point where they need to be catered for in a closed psychiatric unit. A boy who is abnormally and intractably aggressive may be so because of a major personality disorder which can be coped with only in a regime which comprises a substantial input of professional psychiatric service.
There may also be a small intermediate group of recalcitrant boys who are difficult to control in an open setting, but who would not be fit subjects for a closed psychiatric unit. A closed special care unit operated in conjunction with one of the special schools may be necessary in their case.
My Department are at present studying these issues, in consultation with the other Departments and interests involved, with a view to having appropriate provision made for the needs of all these boys.
Would the Minister accept that at the moment the boys who are most urgently in need of attention are not being catered for?
Mr. R. Burke
If the Deputy would specify the category of boys to which he refers perhaps I might be able to help him.
I am sure the Minister is aware that in the last few months in our courts judges have indicated that certain boys are in urgent need of corrective treatment but the existing establishments are not prepared to accept them. Consequently these boys are running wild and nobody is giving them any help.
Mr. R. Burke
I agree with the Deputy there is a problem in regard to certain categories of boys. An inter-departmental committee are considering the problem at the moment and when I receive reports from the committee and from the inter-departmental groups I will be in a position to state more specifically what we have in mind.
Would the Minister examine the question of using one wing of any of the existing establishments to cater for those boys who are regarded as being most in need of this attention?
Mr. R. Burke
While one might agree with the Deputy that such a a wing would be desirable, it is not so easy to have it established. However, I will take note of his point of view and will see that in discussion of this matter appropriate provision will be made in this regard.
Is the Minister aware that approximately 2 per cent or 3 per cent of the young people who get into trouble with the law are in the latter category referred to? Further, is he aware that we have not the kind of intensive care unit necessary—I think this is the vernacular used for describing it? The offenders who are creating most of the vandalism, attacking old people, handbag snatching——
Will the Deputy please get to the nub of his question?
Is the Minister aware that it is this category who are mainly involved and that none of the schools will take them because they cannot deal with them? Is he aware of the urgency of making a decision as soon as possible, and has he been in consultation with the Minister for Justice?
Mr. R. Burke
In reply to the latter part of the question, I have been in contact. The fact that our recent establishments in Finglas and Lusk have been successful has thrown more sensitive light on the differences between categories than was possible in the previous approach to the problem. It is in the light of these more sensitive approaches that problems are emerging. I can assure the Deputy we have very good advice on this matter and we will not delay in trying to implement any measures.