Health Committee to discuss young people in detention with Emily Logan

Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “The issue of young people in detention has been to the fore in recent times, particularly given the announcement by the Justice Minister that St Patrick’s Institution, a detention centre for young offenders, is to be closed.

The Minister said pending the development of new facilities in Oberstown detention centre for young people in mid-2014, this will in the interim involve the transfer of all 17 year olds currently serving a sentence in St Patrick’s Institution to a dedicated Unit in Wheatfield Prison and the transfer of the 18 to 20 year old population to Wheatfield also.

Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan has asked our Committee to look into the issues at Oberstown. Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to discuss the Ombudsman’s concerns around Oberstown in particular and young people in detention in general. We will be particularly interested in considering issues around resources, staff, training and the deadline for developing new facilities at Oberstown detention centre for young people.”

The meeting will start at 4pm in Committee Room 3 tomorrow, Wednesday 17th July 2013.

Committee proceedings can be followed live here. 

Media Enquires to:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

Committee Membership:

Deputies:

Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil

Senators:

Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fianna Fáil
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent