Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Written Answers. - Detention Centres.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

291 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the procedures which exist for the filling of places at juvenile detention centres that may be vacant on a short-term basis when full-time residents of the detention centre are on temporary release; if his Department has specific guidelines that apply to all detention centres for the filling of places on a short-term basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3601/03]

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

The five child detention schools under the aegis of my Department provide residential accommodation for children under 16 years who have been convicted of offences or remanded in custody by the courts. Children may be committed to the schools for a period ranging from one to four years. Children on charges before the courts may be remanded in custody to the schools either on remand only or remand for assessment. Remand periods range from days to weeks.

The schools provide programmes of residential care, education and rehabilitation for the children. As part of the rehabilitation and reintegration process, children may have authorised leave from the school for the purposes of home leave or for educational and training purposes. During this time, they are still under the terms of their sentence and are away from the school under strict conditions. The schools are obliged to ensure that a place is available for them when they return, or if they breach the conditions of their leave and are required to return to the school earlier than planned. If places temporarily vacated by children on such leave were automatically filled on a short-term basis, it would lead to a revolving door situation which is contrary to the principles of care, education, training and rehabilitation.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

292 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of juvenile detention centres, and their total capacity within the State; the number of places within these centres which are currently occupied; the number of spaces within these centres which are currently unoccupied; the average duration of stay per person at a juvenile detention centre; if there are plans for the refurbishment or extension of existing juvenile detention centres or to develop new juvenile detention centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3602/03]

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

The five child detention schools under the aegis of my Department provide residential accommodation for children under 16 years who have been convicted of an offence or remanded in custody by the courts. There are 130 places available for use in these schools, of which 99 places were occupied on 7 February last. The latter figure includes 11 places which are occupied by young people on authorised leave or who have absconded from the schools. These 11 places are not available for use as the young person is still under the terms of their sentence and usually their absence from the school is for a short period. Therefore, 31 places are currently unoccupied.

Children convicted of offences may be committed to the schools for a period ranging from a year to four years. The average stay ranges between 12 and 18 months. Children on charges before the courts may be remanded in custody on remand only, or on remand for assessment. Remand periods range from days to weeks. The average duration of remand periods ranges between four and 13 weeks. Work is currently under way on a programme of capital developments at the child detention schools. This programme provides for the major refurbishment and replacement of existing facilities that are considered inadequate in the context of building regulations, health and safety standards and current minimum standards for residential child care. I have no plans to build new child detention schools at present.