Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 5

Written Answers. - Detention Centres.

Enda Kenny

Question:

475 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science whether a practice exists in Trinity House whereby boys who are at home or attending courses are still deemed to be in occupation of a Trinity House bed with these beds, as a consequence, not available to others even on a short-term basis which results, in some cases, in young boys being committed to Mountjoy, an adult centre of detention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23024/00]

Enda Kenny

Question:

477 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of boys who are deemed to be residents of Trinity House and who slept there on the night of 16 October 2000; the number of beds that were vacant on the night of 16 October 2000; the locations of the persons supposed to occupy those beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23026/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 477 together.

Individual programmes of care and education are provided for the young people referred by the courts to Trinity House school. The main objective of these programmes is to rehabilitate the young people concerned so that they may return to live normal lives with their families and community. Attendance at courses away from the school and home leave programmes can form an integral part of care plans that are intended to gradually prepare the young person for their re-entry into the community and family. Such absences are normally of short duration. The young people in question are required to return to the school following such absences and the school has a responsibility to be able to accommodate the boys on their return. The school must also retain the capacity to accommodate boys who abscond from care at the school. Consequently, a placement allocated to a particular young person is required to be available to the young person in question while in the care of the school and cannot therefore be made available to another young person.

On the night of 16 October 2000, Trinity House school had a capacity for 22 young people. Fifteen of the places were allocated to boys who were in residence on the night; four places to boys who were on short-term leave with their families; and three places to boys who had absconded and were at large.

Enda Kenny

Question:

476 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science if the legislation governing the sale of cigarettes and tobacco to under 18s is adhered to in all its aspects in the case of Trinity House for boys; whether cigarettes and tobacco are provided for under 18s there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23025/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

The director and board of management of Trinity House school are responsible for ensuring that all relevant legislation, including the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act, 1988, is complied with within the school. The position is that the majority of young people admitted to Trinity House school have been smoking for a number of years and are already addicted to the habit by the time they are referred to the school. Once admitted to the school, the policy of the school is to educate the boys to stop smoking. Young people who smoked prior to admittance to Trinity House are given cigarettes which they are allowed to smoke in a restricted way within the school. Young people who do not smoke in Trinity House or who give up smoking are rewarded positively. Cigarettes are not sold to the young people in Trinity House school, nor are they given as a reward.

Management of the school is currently undertaking a review of smoking at the centre with a view to making the school a smoke free area. I am satisfied that the school management is fully aware of its responsibilities under the legislation governing the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Question No. 477 taken with Question No. 475.

Enda Kenny

Question:

478 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost of maintenance of each boy resident in Trinity House on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter in relation to the budget for 2000. [23027/00]

Enda Kenny

Question:

479 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the budget allocated to Trinity House for the year 2000; the number of boys who are expected to be resident there as a basis for this budget; the number of care staff employed there; the number of teachers employed there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23028/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 479 together.

The unit cost per place provided at Trinity House school, including staff and equipment, for 1999 was £97,792.72. Trinity House school is the only secure centre in operation for juvenile offenders in the State and requires high staffing levels and security measures. The unit cost of £97,792.72 is based on the full operating costs of the school, both pay and non-pay expenditure, and includes the salary costs of the teaching staff.

The budget allocation that was agreed between my Department and the management of Trinity House school for the year 2000 is £2,505,893. This allocation covers the cost of the pay and the non-pay expenditure of the school, excluding the salary costs of the teaching staff. The school is licensed to accommodate 30 boys but has a normal operational capacity of 24.

There are 34.5 wholetime care staff and ten teachers employed in Trinity House school. In addition to these staff groups, the school also has a range of other staff grades such as management, administrative staff, unit managers, night supervisors, maintenance staff, catering and auxiliary staff.