asked the Minister for Justice the number of children 12-16 years of age detained in Loughan House in 1978 since its opening as a reformatory, the length of time spent there by each child and the number of parents who have availed of the free monthly travel voucher to Loughan House.
Written Answers. - Loughan House Detainees.
328.
A total of 41 boys have been committed to Loughan House since it opened as a special school. The length of time spent by each boy in Loughan House is given in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Offical Report. Boys released or transferred from Loughan House are identified in the statement.
The monthly travel voucher is valid for all members of a boy's family and not just his parents. Information is not readily available to distinguish between visits made by the boys' parents as distinct from those made by other members of their families. The vast majority of boys receive at least one visit per month.
|
Boy |
Length of Time Spent in the school |
Boy |
Length of Time Spent in the school |
|
(1) R |
6 months |
(21) R |
6 months |
|
(2) R |
6 months and 2 weeks |
(22) R |
3 months and 1 week |
|
(3) - |
5 months |
(23) R |
19 days |
|
(4) R |
4 months |
(24) - |
4 months and 2 weeks |
|
(5) - |
9 months and 2 weeks |
(25) - |
9 months and 2 weeks |
|
(6) - |
12 months and 3 weeks |
(26) R |
5 months and 2 weeks |
|
(7) R |
6 months |
(27) R |
3 months and 3 weeks |
|
(8) R |
10 months |
(28) R |
5 months and 2 weeks |
|
(9) - |
9 months |
(29) - |
7 months and 3 weeks |
|
(10) R |
10 months |
(30) R |
2 months and 1 week |
|
(11) R |
5 months |
(31) - |
6 months and 3 weeks |
|
(12) - |
7 months and 2 weeks |
(32) - |
6 months and 3 weeks |
|
(13) R |
6 months |
(33) - |
6 months and 2 weeks |
|
(14) R |
7 weeks |
(34) R |
4 months |
|
(15) - |
11 months and 3 weeks |
(35) - |
5 months and 2 weeks |
|
(16) R |
7 weeks |
(36) - |
5 months and 2 weeks |
|
(17) R |
5 months and 2 weeks |
(37) R |
19 days |
|
(18) R |
9 months and 3 weeks |
(38) - |
4 months and 3 weeks |
|
(19) R |
6 months and 2 weeks |
(39) - |
4 months and 2 weeks |
|
(20) R |
7 months and 2 weeks |
(40) - |
2 months and 1 week |
|
(41) - |
7 weeks |
R = released or transferred from Loughan House.
329.
asked the Minister for Justice the whereabouts of all children released, or transferred, from Loughan House, and the reasons for the transfer or release in each case.
Since Loughan House came into operation 23 boys have been released from there. Of these eight were transferred to other special schools, nine were released either to take up employment or to avail of facilities in community hostels and so on, four were released by the courts on appeal and two were convicted of fresh offences and sentenced to St. Patrick's Institution. (One of these boys was sentenced for his involvement in the two roof incidents last July while the other was sentenced for offences committed while unlawfully at large from Loughan House).
The authorities in Loughan House do not follow up the progress of boys once they have been released outright or transferred, so that it is not possible to give details of the present whereabouts of each boy concerned. It is known, however, that apart from the two sentenced to custody in St. Patrick's Institution directly from Loughan House four are at present serving sentences in St. Patrick's Institution and one in Shanganagh Castle.
Boys are released from Loughan House as soon as it is considered that they offer a reasonable prospect of reintegrating into the community. Some boys may be deemed to need a further period of care in a more open setting before outright release, and in these cases transfers are arranged to other special schools.