Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 1

Written Answers. - Finglas (Dublin) Children's Centre.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

181 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education her policy in relation to St. Michael's Remand and Assessment Unit, Finglas West, Dublin 11; and her views on whether assessment units should be operated by the health boards with an assessment unit in place in every health board region.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

182 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education the reason the De La Salle Order has withdrawn from running the Finglas West Complex, Dublin 11; and the future plans, if any, she has for the complex.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.

The Finglas Children's Centre has two distinct facilities, St. Michael's Remand and Assessment Unit and St. Laurence's Industrial School. The centre, which opened in 1972, is owned by the State and has been managed on behalf of my Department by the De La Salle Order since that time.

St. Michael's Remand and Assessment Unit is registered under the Children Act, 1908 as a Place of Detention and is certified as such by the Minister for Justice. As a place of detention, St. Michael's is required to accommodate male children and young persons referred by the Courts either on remand, on remand for assessment or on one month detention orders. The centre has a capacity to accommodate up to 20 such cases.

While the main focus of St. Michael's work has been to provide assessments of young offenders where requested by the Courts, the services it provides in meeting the remand needs of the Courts also represent a very important component in the overall provision for young offenders. I look forward to a continuation of this role in the future.

It is a matter for the health boards to determine their role in relation to the provision of assessment services generally. However, I would draw a very clear distinction between any such role and the very specific legal remit of Places of Detention which embraces both a remand, detention and assessment function. I would not see a role for the health boards in this particular area.

The decision of the De La Salle Order to withdraw from the management of the Finglas Children's Centre from June next, arose from their unwillingness to continue to adhere to the requirements of the 1908 Children Act under which St. Michael's, as a place of detention, is required to accommodate both remand and assessment cases referred by the Courts. In effect, the centre had indicated its intention to refuse to accept any further "remand only" cases from the Courts.

Strenuous efforts were made by my Department to dissuade the authorities at the centre from embarking on their proposed course. It was pointed out that my Department could not condone a direct breach of the 1908 Children Act and that my Department had an obligation to meet the requirements of the Courts.

In the event, the De La Salle Order decided to withdraw from management of the Finglas Children's Centre. My Department has no alternative, therefore, but to proceed with the necessary arrangements for the appointment of a new management team for the centre. These arrangements are currently being pursued.

While the decision of the De La Salle Order to withdraw from the Finglas Children's Centre is very much regretted, the Deputy will appreciate that as Minister with responsibility for the young offender area, I must ensure that the requirements of the law are fully met.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation of the valuable work which the De La Salle Order has undertaken at the centre over many years. I also want to acknowledge the Order's commitment to co-operate fully in ensuring a smooth transition to a new management team. I have no doubt that the Order's contribution has provided a most valuable basis for a successful operation of the centre in the future.