Vol. 558 No. 5
147 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre; the status of the recent Laxton report on the centre; when he will publish the report; the changes which he has sanctioned since completion of that report; the further changes which he intends to introduce; the timescale for these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25139/02]
An independent inspector, Mr. Mike Laxton, was commissioned by my Department to carry out an inspection of the Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre. The focus of the inspection was an examination of the centre's systems, procedures and standards of care. The inspector completed his work in July 2002. The report of the inspector is available on the Department of Education and Science website.
148 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the current number of children in each of the units in the Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre; the reason these units are not operating to full capacity; his proposals to bring all places into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25140/02]
There are currently 19 children in Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre as follows: national assessment and remand unit (formerly St. Michael's), ten and the care and education unit (formerly St. Laurence's), nine, with two more children are due to arrive in the centre next week.
The national assessment and remand unit is fully occupied. The care and education unit is undergoing some refurbishment work. As a result of this work not all of the places are available for occupancy. In addition due to some refurbishment work on the administration area in the care and education unit the grove pre-release unit is being used temporarily for administration staff.
There are a number of factors that have impacted on the operation of the Finglas centre in recent times. A major programme of capital redevelopment works has been undertaken in the centre in the past two years. These works have significantly reduced the capacity of the centre and caused considerable disruption for both the young people in care and the staff. When the programme of capital work is complete it is intended that the Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre will be in a position to operate to capacity. In this regard the Department of Education and Science has commissioned an independent review of the residential requirements for young offenders. The purpose of this review is to examine the existing residential provision for children who have been convicted of an offence or placed on remand by a court and indicate if the places available are being used optimally and appropriately at present. The outcome of this review will assist in planning for the optimum number of places required in all of the young offender centres, including the Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre.
