I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, together.
My Department has sole statutory responsibility for the provision of residential services for children up to the age of 16 years who have been convicted by a court or placed on remand by a court. There are five young offender centres under the aegis of my department. A programme to upgrade and modernise these facilities is currently under way.
From time to time difficulties may arise accommodating individual children on the first date on which a placement is sought in a particular unit due to pressure on places on a given day. In general the child in these circumstances is either subsequently placed in the unit or in one of the other facilities as an alternate to, or pending the availability of, a place in the original unit of preference. The operational capacity of these facilities may fluctuate from time to time to facilitate refurbishment and new developments. Capacity is also reduced where a centre is required to make special arrangements to cater for a particularly difficult child.
My Department has commissioned an independent audit of the residential requirements for young offenders. The purpose of this audit is to ensure that there are sufficient residential places available to meet the needs of the target group in the short, medium and longer term. A consultant has been appointed and it is expected his report will be available early next year.