Vol. 488 No. 7
423 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if the Garda have reported that the young person (details supplied), who regularly gets weekend temporary release from a detention centre, causes havoc each weekend in stolen cars in the East Wall area; and if any further temporary release will be terminated. [7257/98]
The youth referred to by the Deputy was committed to Oberstown Boys Centre by the courts for a two year period commencing on 21 October 1997, having been on remand in the centre for the previous four weeks.
A programme of home leave, consisting chiefly of an overnight home visit at weekends, was put in place for this boy, based on his good progress and behaviour while in the centre. The centre is not aware of any adverse reports regarding the boy's behaviour while on home leave. On one occasion, the boy was late in returning to the centre and his next scheduled home visit was cancelled as a consequence. It is normal practice to suspend or cancel home leave programmes where the child's behaviour, either in the centre itself or while on home leave, falls below acceptable standards.
Management of Oberstown Boys Centre has contacted the boy's local Garda station and is awaiting a report from the gardaí as to the boy's behaviour while on home leave. The boy's home leave programme has been suspended pending receipt of the Garda report.
