I take it that the Deputy's question relates to the five special schools for young offenders operated under the aegis of my Department. The detailed information requested by the Deputy in relation to these facilities is currently being compiled in my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
While every effort is made to accommodate children placed on remand or sentenced to detention by the courts, difficulties do arise from time to time in providing immediate accommodation for individual children in the particular centre nominated by the courts. Generally, such children can be accommodated within a short period in an alternative facility, pending the availability of a place in the centre nominated by the court.
The measures put forward in the Children Bill, 1999, are intended to address the issue of residential accommodation for children with special care needs and those coming into conflict with the law. This Bill provides for a comprehensive range of early intervention and non-custodial options which are intended to deflect children away from the criminal justice system. The Bill also provides for the establishment of a special residential services board which will play a key role in ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of custodial and non-custodial services for children in need of care or in conflict with the law.
As part of a series of developments arising under the Children Bill, my Department is currently pursuing a major development plan. This plan envisages the development of additional custodial places for young male and female offenders and a major refurbishment of some of the existing custodial facilities. In parallel with this development, the health authorities are developing a significant number of high support units and special care units to cater for children with special care needs.
