Vol. 405 No. 9
185 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth who has been the cause of grave concern to the relevant public authorities; if he will make a statement on her situation, particularly in regard to the way in which she can be accommodated in special residential care which would cater for her needs.
I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy.
The person in question is one of a small number of teenage girls who have appeared before the courts on criminal charges and who have been deemed by the courts to require secure accommodation. As the Deputy will be aware, there is at present no facility in the State providing long term, secure accommodation for young girls. However, I understand that the Department of Education aims to have such a facility in operation within the next few months.
