Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2004
241 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of beds in each of the children's detention centres; the number in each case which were occupied as at 31 January 2004; the number of actual vacancies on that date; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the current provision. [5357/04]
View answerThere are five children detention schools under the aegis of my Department. The schools provide residential accommodation for children under 16 years who have been convicted of an offence or remanded in custody by the courts. The five schools currently have a combined operational capacity of 115 boys and 15 girls. The operational capacity may fluctuate from time to time to accommodate refurbishment and new developments, fire, health and safety or security concerns and current child care practices.
The number of occupied beds and the number of vacancies in respect of each of the five schools as at 31 January 2004 is as follows: Trinity House School, 18 occupied beds and 9 vacancies; Oberstown Boys Centre, 20 occupied beds and no vacancies; Oberstown Girls Centre. 9 occupied beds and 6 vacancies; Finglas Child & Adolescent Centre, 21 occupied beds and 7 vacancies; St. Joseph's Special School, Clonmel, 25 occupied beds and 15 vacancies.
A key consideration for my Department in commencing the Children Act 2001 is the identification of the appropriate number of residential places required under the new arrangements. An independent internationally recognised expert in the field of residential care was commissioned by my Department to review the residential requirements for children's detention schools. This review does not envisage any significant change in requirements in the short term.
In the medium to long-term the review suggests that with the implementation of the Children Act 2001, and the increasing availability of early intervention measures and alternatives to custody envisaged, there will be a reduction in demand for residential places for young offenders. The views of the Special Residential Services Board on the report were received by my Department and are currently being considered.
