Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 4

Written Answers. - Residential Schools.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

82 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the managerial and supervisory arrangements within his Department in respect of the five special residential schools; the number of staff engaged in this work and their grades; his views on the adequacy of this provision; and the steps he will take to ensure that effective and quality services are in place to deal with young offenders. [14197/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The five residential schools for young offenders under the aegis of my Department are owned by the State and managed on its behalf by boards of management. The schools are currently governed by the terms of the Children Act, 1908, which will be replaced by the Children Act, 2001, when the provisions of the latter Act are commenced.

The operation of the five schools is financed totally from the first level education Vote of my Department. Each school is allocated a budget from which all normal pay and non-pay operating costs are met. The pay costs of the teachers in each school are paid centrally by my Department.

The current staffing levels of the unit in my Department with responsibility for the young offender centres are: one higher executive officer, two executive officers and two clerical officers. In addition there is an assistant principal officer, a principal officer and an assistant secretary general who have responsibility for this area along with other duties. I am satisfied that the staffing levels in this area are adequate.

My Department also has a child care adviser whose role is to provide advice and assurance to the Department in relation to the children in care in the special schools. In addition a member of the inspectorate has responsibility for inspection of the schools in accordance with provisions of the Children Act, 1908. There are also a number of other special support areas in my Department that provide a service to the centres as required. These areas include the building unit, legal services and external staff relations.

I am conscious of the overriding need to ensure that the quality of services provided by the schools for young offenders meets recognised standards. It is my intention that each centre will be independently inspected by an external agency as soon as possible. Independent inspection will give reassurance concerning the standard of care being provided, the efficacy of the systems and procedures being followed and the efficiency of each centre's operations. My Department has consulted with the schools and the social services inspectorate on this matter and a pilot inspection is currently under way in Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre. A report on this inspection is due shortly. I am confident that independent inspection will identify any weaknesses that may exist and give confidence that the children concerned are being cared for in a manner that accords with established best practice.

Furthermore in order to ensure that there are adequate places available to accommodate children who have been convicted or placed on remand by a court. I have commissioned an independent review of the residential requirements for young offenders. The purpose of this review is to ensure that there are sufficient and appropriate residential places available to meet the needs of the target group into the future. The review will also indicate if existing places are being used optimally.

Agreement has also been secured for an independent review of child care staffing levels and structures in the schools for young offenders. This review will indicate the staffing levels and structures required to enable the schools provide a high quality and caring service to its residents in an efficient and economic manner.

The recently established special residential services board will have a role to play in ensuring the efficient and co-ordinated delivery of services for the young people concerned.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

83 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the progress of the special inspection into the Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre, Dublin 11, as announced by his predecessor; if the inspection has been completed; when its report will be published; the procedures in place for the adoption of the report; and his plans in respect of implementing the report's recommendations. [14198/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Recently Mr. Mike Laxton carried out a pilot independent inspection of the centre. He is an internationally recognised expert in the field of residential child care. It is expected that his report will be finalised shortly.

Mr. Laxton examined and inspected the operations of the centre by reference to draft standards that were drawn up by my Department in consultation with the centres themselves and social services inspectorate. These standards cover all aspects of residential child care and reflect best practice both in Ireland and internationally.

I intend to review and finalise the standards for inspection following the outcome of the pilot inspection of the centre. I will then extend this process of independent inspection to all the young offender centres under the aegis of my Department.

The process for implementing the report is set out in the draft standards. My Department will issue the report to the centre's director and the chairperson of the board of management. The board of management will be requested to provide details of its plans to implement the recommendations in the inspection report and the associated timescale within one month. Quarterly progress reports on the implementation of the report will have to be submitted to my Department and follow-up visits to assess the extent the actions promised have been undertaken may also be conducted by the inspector.

The report of the inspection, when complete, will be made available. My Department will also forward it to the social services inspectorate.