Shanganagh Castle was opened in 1969 as an open detention centre for males aged between 16 and 21 years of age. The centre, which stands on grounds of 24 acres, has dormitory accommodation for 60 inmates. However, it has been increasingly difficult to identify young male offenders suitable for this type of open prison accommodation. Last year Shanganagh Castle had an average offender occupancy of 30 inmates. This has fallen again this year with as few as 16 inmates being detained recently. In addition, the full implementation of the provisions of the Children Act, 2001, will mean that 16 and 17 year old inmates must be completely segregated in the prison system, resulting in a further drop in those offenders who might be found suitable for transfer to the castle.
The annual cost of keeping an offender at Shanganagh Castle in 2001 was €127,000. This is significantly higher than the average overall cost per prisoner of €79,000 in the same year. The suggestion in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy that Shanganagh Castle provides the only drug free environment for young offenders in the Irish prison system is factually incorrect. St. Patrick's Institution, which caters for the same age group as Shanganagh Castle, has operated a designated drug free wing since November 2000. This wing allows inmates who do not have a background of drug abuse and those who have demonstrated the desire to stop taking drugs to be detained in a drug free and secure environment. A study contracted by the European Conference on Drugs and HIV/AIDS Services in Prisons indicated that St. Patrick's Institution was an example of best practice in the area of drug policy in establishments of its type. They also singled out the institution as a fine example of multidisciplinary working with good care and planning services for offenders.