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Child Detention Centres

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013

Thursday, 16 May 2013

Questions (246)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

246. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on recent media reports that there is a lack of space in children's detention centres, particularly that a unit in one of the centres cannot be used due to staffing issues; if she will ensure that all spaces in such centres are made available or that alternative residential arrangements can be made for children at risk of harming themselves or others who appear before the courts. [23519/13]

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Written answers

The current lack of bed spaces in the Children Detention Schools, at Oberstown, County Dublin has been caused by a recent increase in the number of young people being referred by the Courts, compared to the trend over the past few years. This has put severe pressure on the number of bed spaces available in the Children Detention Schools.

I am considering all options to resolve the matter and my Department is working closely with the Board of Management of the detention schools to resolve the staffing issues which have delayed the opening of an 8 bed unit in Trinity House School.

The Irish Youth Justice Service of my Department operates a bed management system, on a 24 hour basis and will continue to ensure that the courts are notified of beds as they become available.

Following extensive conciliation and staff consultation facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission, a new cross campus roster which provided for flexibility in the deployment of staff across the campus came into operation with effect from 25 February 2013. This replaced rostering arrangements which had been in place for over 30 years and is at the early stages of its implementation. However, staff absenteeism has meant that it has not been possible to reopen an 8 bed unit in Trinity House School, which when open will provide additional capacity to the courts.

An extensive audit of the new rostering arrangements is currently underway and the efficiency and effectiveness of these new arrangements will be reviewed.

I assumed legal responsibility for the Children Detention Schools in Oberstown on 1 January 2012. On 2 April 2012, I announced a capital investment package for the Oberstown Children Detention schools project in Lusk, Co Dublin. This project is on target and construction is due to start in July 2013 and 3 new units will be completed by mid 2014. Tenders for the new development were received on 3 May 2013 and the evaluation of tenders received will be carried out by the Office of Public Works over the coming weeks.

The Government remains fully committed to ending the use of St Patrick’s Institution for the detention of children by developing the required facilities on the Oberstown campus.

With effect from 1 May 2012, I also announced the ending of the practice of detaining 16 year old boys in St Patrick’s Institution through using existing capacity that was available on the Oberstown children detention school campus. Since July 2012 there have been no 16 year old boys detained in St Patrick’s Institution. The numbers being detained in Oberstown have, however, increased significantly.

I am satisfied that the decision to have 16 year old boys detained in the detention schools and end the practice of sending them to St. Patrick’s Institution was the correct one and fulfils Government and international imperatives to end the imprisonment of children. This decision was taken following detailed consideration of patterns of remands and committals of children over the previous 2 years.

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