The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS), which is based in my Department, continues to work to progress its goal to strengthen and develop its evidence base in order to support more effective policies and services for children in conflict with the law, which is one of the goals of the current Youth Justice Action Plan for the period 2014-2018. The IYJS continues to collect and develop information on children admitted to the children detention schools with regard to their involvement with social workers and/or the care system.
I am advise that, in the period 1 January 2014 to 25 June 2014 inclusive, a total of 102 young people have been in custody in a children detention school, either on the basis of remand in custody or to serve a sentence of detention. Of those, 49% are known to have had an assigned social worker and a further 21% have been the subject of a recent care order under the Child Care Acts.
The provision of statistics in relation to St. Patrick's Institution is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.