asked the Minister for Justice whether he intends to provide a properly equipped clinic with trained personnel to examine juvenile delinquents on remand and report to the District Justice responsible for ultimately determining the appropriate treatment for the juvenile; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clinic for Juvenile Delinquents.
Mr. Boland
The making of better provision for the medical examination of juvenile delinquents has been under consideration, but a decision has been postponed pending the transfer of the children's court in Dublin to more suitable premises than are at present available, with office accommodation for the probation officers, and other facilities. It is expected that suitable premises will be available before the end of the summer and when that problem has been disposed of, and some experience gained of the working of the court under the new conditions, the question of medical examination will be further considered in consultation with the responsible justice.
Is there no hope that in the meantime some steps will be taken to adapt this place of detention situated in Summerhill along the lines suggested in my question which, I believe, have been accepted in principle by the Department of Justice? Why wait until you have new premises in which to conduct the court to reform the place of detention in Summerhill?
Mr. Boland
The question has been examined, and it will not be very long until we have the court working in suitable premises. We shall be guided by whatever experience we gain there. These things, as the Deputy knows, are not done overnight, but everything possible will be done to set up this system as soon as practicable. It is under active examination at present.
What on earth have court premises to do with the accommodation and equipment of the place of detention to which juvenile delinquents are sent, pending their final disposition by the court?
Mr. Boland
It is more than a matter of court premises. There will also be offices for the probation officers, as the Deputy will see if he studies the answer. As well as having premises for the court, we hope to have suitable accommodation for the probation officers, and generally to have better accommodation than we have at present. When we have got that, the other question will be dealt with.
Surely, in the meantime, when you have these unfortunate children in the place of detention, it would be quite practicable to establish the personnel and machinery of a properly equipped clinic to deal with these children, and leave the acquisition of suitable premises over until such time as premises are available. Why wait to get the trained personnel and the equipment until there is a new courthouse and a new place for probation officers? What on earth have they to do with the medical examination of the children? Surely the Minister can hold out some better hope than that something will be done some time?
Mr. Boland
I have said that we hope to have these premises by the end of the summer. That is not a very long time. It is not as if it were a matter of building new premises.
I hope it will not be like the Pearse Street Post Office. That was the first premises the Minister promised and it took four years to get it.