asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of cases in the Dublin Children's Court heard for each year, 1970 to 1975 (b) the number of convictions, (c) the number sentenced, and (d) the places to which such children were sentenced; and if he will state (i) the number not sentenced due to lack of places in residential homes, and (ii) the number of refusals to accept such pupils by these homes and schools.
Written Answers. - Dublin Children's Court.
177.
The answer to part (a) of the question is as follows:
|
1970 |
16,586 |
|
1971 |
24,165 |
|
1972 |
22,931 |
|
1973 |
22,316 |
|
1974 |
21,906 |
These figures do not, of course, represent the numbers of persons who appeared before the court; the great majority of persons appearing before the court are each involved in two or more cases.
The statistical records of the court are not compiled in such a way as to provide the information requested in the other parts of the question. It has been possible, however, to abstract from the records the following figures which show the numbers of children committed to schools certified under the Children Act 1908.
|
1970 |
171 |
|
1971 |
138 |
|
1972 |
80 |
|
1973 |
85 |
|
1974 |
67 |
The above figures include children who would have been committed to certified schools for reasons other than the commission of an offence, that is to say, children found not having a home; they do not, on the other hand, include children remanded in custody.