Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 6

Written Answers. - Accommodation for Young Offenders.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

49 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if the report promised in Dáil Éireann regarding the failure to make accommodation available for a person (details supplied) at Trinity House, Lusk, County Dublin, has been received by her; if it is intended to publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Mary Flaherty

Question:

75 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Education if the report promised in Dáil Éireann regarding the failure to make accommodation available for a person (details supplied) at Trinity House, Lusk, County Dublin, has been received by her; if it is intended to publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Lowry

Question:

103 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education if the report promised in Dáil Éireann regarding the failure to make accommodation available for a person (details supplied) at Trinity House, Lusk, County Dublin, has been received by her; if it is intended to publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Phil Hogan

Question:

105 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education if the report promised in Dáil Éireann regarding the failure to make accommodation available for a person (details supplied) at Trinity House, Lusk, County Dublin, has been received by her; if it is intended to publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 75, 103 and 105 together.

I assume that the Deputies' questions relate to the recent incident where a 14 year old boy, sentenced to one month detention at Trinity House Reformatory School, was reported to have been abandoned by the gardaí outside the school, where accommodation was not available for him.

As already indicated to the House, I view this matter with the utmost seriousness and I can assure the House that all necessary steps will be taken to avoid a recurrence.

I have just recently received a copy of a report, furnished by the Garda Commissioner at the request of the Minister for Justice, which was passed to me on a confidential basis.

The experience in this case has served to highlight the absolute necessity for closer co-ordination between the Garda and management of the centres for young offenders in the future.

I have, therefore, arranged for urgent discussions between my Department and the Department of Justice to review and clarify the respective roles and responsibilities of the management of the centres for young offenders and the Garda.

In view of the sensitive nature of the issues involved, which have to do with the security of arrangements for handling young offenders, I would not consider it appropriate to publish the results of my inquiry into the present case. However, I will shortly be in touch with the Deputies about the arrangements in place for the future.