Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2004
41 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of juvenile detention centres; the total number of places available nationally for juvenile detention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5286/04]
View answerThere are five children's 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.
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.
