Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
747. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of her Department’s €26 million capital spending for 2013 that will go towards construction projects; the projects involved; the details of these projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5270/13]
View answerThe €25.76m in capital funding for my Department in 2013 involves a number of specific projects. The largest project involves the development of new National Children Detention Facilities at Oberstown, Lusk, Co Dublin and includes the provision of six new detention units and associated education and training facilities. This project accounts for 80% (€20.40m) of my total capital funding and is a major construction project. Time-lines for the project indicate that the first new residential units, to provide sufficient capacity to enable the transfer of responsibility for 17 year old boys from St. Patrick’s Institution, will be available for use by mid-2014. The completion of the full scheme is expected in 2015 and will include the replacement of some existing accommodation on the campus which has reached the end of its useful life. The full development will deliver all detention services for children in a single location which will maximise the scope for ensuring best practice standards using the children detention school model and operational efficiency.
Capital funding of €3.25m is also being provided to support childcare facilities and I am currently considering how this allocation can best be utilised for the benefit of the childcare sector. In addition, capital funding of €1.75m is being provided for Youth Programmes and Services which includes €1.00m towards Youth Cafes, €0.50m for Youth Projects and €0.25m for Play and Recreation Initiatives. Criteria for the schemes are being developed at present and my Department will be announcing details regarding the application process for 2013 shortly.
