I propose to take Priority Question No. 58 and Oral Question No. 46 together.
The Task Force on Child Care Services which reported to the Minister for Health in 1980 contains recommendations in respect of the subject matter of these two questions. Those recommendations among others have been under consideration in the Department of Health. Any proposals which the Government may approve in this area will be announced in the normal way in due course.
The position at present under the Children Act, 1908, is that a young person is not sent to prison for an offence unless the court certifies that he is so unruly or depraved of character that he cannot be held in a place of detention.
Persons aged between 16 and 21 can be transferred from St. Patrick's Institution to prison under the Prevention of Crime Act, 1908, if they are certified by the Visiting Committee of St. Patrick's to be exercising a bad influence on the other inmates or if, under the Prisons Act, 1970, the Minister, following consultation with the Visiting Committee, makes an order declaring that, due to overcrowding, inmates aged between 17 and 21 may be transferred to prison. Orders under the 1970 Act have been in force since 1985.
In deciding whether a juvenile should be placed in a single cell or in a cell with other offenders, the prison authorities appreciate that some juveniles would be better off being in a cell with other prisoners rather than placed on their own and, in exercising their discretion, care is exercised in selecting suitable adults to share cells with juveniles.
Decisions as to whether it is in the best interests of a juvenile to share a cell with an adult offender or to be kept in a cell alone have to be taken by the prison authorities in each individual case. The interests of the juvenile would be paramount in reaching such a decision. The Deputy will appreciate that there can be occasions when it would be in the best interests of the juvenile to have him share a cell with a caring adult rather than to leave him alone in a cell.