asked the Minister for Education if he will state when he proposes to introduce proposals for legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Cussen Commission on juvenile delinquents, industrial schools and reformatories.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Schools and Reformatories.
The recommendations of this commission are at present being examined by my Department and the other Departments concerned, and I am not yet in a position to make any promise regarding the introduction of legislation on the subject.
In view of the fact that there was a unanimous finding that this place of detention at Summerhill was an unsuitable place wherein to incarcerate young children, will the Minister now consider the desirability of taking interim action to end that abuse, even if he cannot see his way to introduce legislation of a wider scope, bearing in mind that this place has stood condemned for nearly three years for the incarceration of children from eight to 14 years?
I think the Deputy should have put down that question instead of the one which he did, in fact, put down. I may mention, however, for his information that the matter is being attended to, and that no time is being lost in carrying out the recommendation of the commission with regard to the Summerhill place of detention.
I am grateful to the Minister for that information.