Eamon Gilmore
Question:456 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education the amount of money it costs the State per week to keep a young offender in a detention centre. [433/94]
Written Answers. - Detention of Young Offenders.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:457 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education the number of young offenders that are held at juvenile detention centres throughout the country; and if she will give a breakdown of the offences for which they are being held. [434/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together.
My Department has responsibility for five custodial facilities. Three of these facilities are certified reformatory schools which receive referrals from the courts either on short term remand or on long-stay placement. The remaining two facilities are industrial schools which cater for referrals from the courts and also voluntary referrals from the health boards. The five facilities in question normally have an overall capacity to accommodate a total of 210 boys and 16 girls. However, in the case of boys, this capacity has been temporarily reduced by ten places because of a recent fire in Trinity House Reformatory School which reduced the capacity of that school from 30 places to 20 places. Urgent action is being taken to bring these places back into service.
The actual number of children accommodated in these centres varies from day to day, depending on court decisions, release dates etc. On 6 October 1994, a total of 162 boys and 13 girls were accommodated. It should be noted that not all children accommodated in these centres have been convicted of breaches of the law. Voluntary placements in industrial schools are arranged through the health boards and children may be on remand pending a hearing of their case.
Where committal on foot of an actual offence is involved, the nature of the offence would be such that, if committed by an adult, it would have resulted in the imposition of a term of imprisonment. Such offences would span a wide range of activity including larceny, damage to property, assault etc. In many instances a variety of offences may have been committed by one individual. In addition, committal to an industrial school can arise from breaches of the School Attendance Acts.
Based on the level of accommodation provided in the centres, the cost to the State per place is as follows:
|
Year 1993 |
||
|
Per Annum |
Per Week |
|
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Finglas Children's Centre |
25,620 |
493 |
|
St. Joseph's, Clonmel |
21,845 |
420 |
|
Oberstown Girls Centre |
48,426 |
931 |
|
Oberstown Boys Centre |
57,124 |
1,098 |
|
Trinity House |
68,156 |
1,310 |