Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2006
1346 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the Sections and sub-Sections of the Children’s Act 2001 coming under the remit of her Department that have not commenced; and the date for their commencement. [29455/06]
View answerPart 10 of the Children Act 2001 relates to the governance and operation of children detention schools. Section 159(1) of the Act has been commenced for the purpose of allowing 3 representatives of children detention schools to be appointed to the Special Residential Services Board. However, the remaining provisions of Part 10 of the Act have not been commenced.
As the Deputy will be aware, following on from the recommendations contained in the Youth Justice Report published last year, it was decided to transfer responsibility for these institutions from my Department to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, other than in the case St Joseph's in Clonmel which is to transfer to the Health Services Executive. Responsibility for educational provision in the institutions will be conferred on the relevant vocational education committee. Parts 12 and 13 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 have given effect to this and made substantial amendments to the Children Act 2001. It is envisaged that this transfer of responsibility will be effected through the commencement of the 2001 provisions, as amended by the 2006 Act, in the near future.
