Seán Crowe
Question:81. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners under 18 years of age who remain in St. Patrick’s Institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54472/12]
View answerTuesday, 11 December 2012
Questions (81)
Written answers
I can advise the Deputy that on 7th December, 2012 there were 30 seventeen year old prisoners in custody in St Patrick's Institution, 11 of which were held on remand.
As you will be aware the Government committed, in the Programme for Government, to remove 16 and 17 year old offenders completely from the adult prison system. In this context, the practice of sending 16 year old boys to St Patrick's Institution ceased on 1st May, 2012. From that date, all newly remanded or sentenced 16 year olds have been detained in the children detention facilities in Oberstown. The capital investment package approved by the Government in April this year, for the construction and improvement of facilities in Oberstown child detention schools, will result in sufficient capacity to extend the child care model of detention to all young people under the age of 18 by mid 2014.
In addition, the feasibility of accommodating some categories of the 17 year old age group in the child detention schools before that date is being actively examined. Arrangements are also being made for a number of care staff from the children detention schools to work on placement in St Patrick's Institution alongside prison staff. It is intended that this will take place in mid January 2013.