Séamus Hughes
Question:76 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to provide additional places of detention for young offenders. [18433/96]
Written Answers. - Accommodation for Young Offenders.
Responsibility for places of detention for offenders under 16 years is vested in the Minister for Education save in exceptional circumstances where committal to prison of a juvenile is certified appropriate by the courts. The main facility available for offenders in the higher 16-21 year category is St. Patrick's Institution which currently has a capacity of 188 spaces and Shanganagh Open Centre which has a capacity of 60 spaces.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has approved my proposals for the provision of over 800 additional prison places.
The new additional places being provided are not specifically earmarked for young offenders. One of the priorities when it comes to deciding how these extra spaces will be used, will be to separate remand from convicted prisoners and, to the greatest extent possible, young offenders from older ones.