Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 7

Written Answers. - Juvenile Offender Accommodation.

Ivor Callely

Question:

62 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education the procedures, if any, that are followed by the authorities when admission for appropriate accommodation for a juvenile offender cannot be secured due to lack of accommodation; if the juvenile offender is accommodated elsewhere; the number of such instances which arose in 1995 where juvenile offenders could not be given the appropriate accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3720/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Where accommodation is not immediately available in a centre to which a court proposes to refer a young offender, the procedure outlined below is followed.

The director of the centre in question is required immediately to ascertain whether appropriate alternative accommodation is available in another centre. Where such accommodation is available, the court is so advised. Generally, the court avails of the alternative offered.

In circumstances where it is possible to predict when a place will become available in the centre originally selected, the court is advised of this. In some cases, the court may defer a decision pending the availability of a place in the selected centre. In these cases, the court may decide to release the child on temporary bail into the care of a parent or other responsible adult.

Because the centres must deal with referrals from courts all over the country, demands for accommodation can change on an hourly basis. I can assure the Deputy that every effort is made to ensure that the above arrangements operate as effectively as possible.

Instances have arisen where the above arrangements have not provided a solution and a particular centre has been unable to accommodate a child actually brought to the centre by the gardaí. In such cases, the accompanying gardaí have a responsibility to return the offender to the court if it is still sitting. Otherwise, the offender is brought to the Garda station and given station bail. In more rare cases, the offender may be released under the care of a parent or responsible adult.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of cases refused admission in 1995 is not readily available in my Department. I will arrange to have the data forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

I should also point out that the draft scheme of the new Children Bill, which was recently approved by Government, will make a major contribution to improving current arrangements in the general area of catering for children in need of special care or who have come into conflict with the law. In particular, in order to improve co-ordination between the courts and the centres in placing young offenders, the Bill will make provision for the establishment of a single executive board responsible for the operation of all young offender centres.