asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of Marlborough House, Dublin (a) how many boys are usually resident there each week and (b) what is the cost per boy per week to the State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marlborough House (Dublin).
37.
(a) The daily average number of boys detained in Marlborough House is 26.
(b) The cost per boy to the State is approximately £6 10s weekly.
38.
asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of Marlborough House, Dublin what is the annual salary of (a) the head official, (b) the second in command, (c) the accountant, (d) the ordinary members of the supervising staff, (e) the domestic staff and (f) any teachers on the staff.
The whole-time staff of Marlborough House comprises the superintendent, the matron, five male attendants and two female domestics. Their annual salaries are as follows:—
Superintendent, £630 plus residence, fuel and light; Matron, £500 plus residence, fuel and light; 2 attendants, £735 each; 3 attendants, £657 each; 2 Domestics, £418 each.
39.
asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of Marlborough House, Dublin how the boys there are occupied during the day.
The normal daily activities of the detainees in Marlborough House consist of cleaning their dormitories and dining-halls, outdoor exercise, morning and afternoon, including walks, drill and football, reading and writing in small groups under supervision, and catechetical instruction. Indoor recreation includes television, radio and table games. The average duration of stay in the Place of Detention—six days— is so short as to render formal academic instruction impractical.
Has the Minister's attention been directed, in view of the fact that many of these children are on remand awaiting ultimate disposition by the district justice, to the desirability of providing an adequate psychiatric service—I am not speaking of psychological service—so that the district justice might have a report on the psychiatric circumstances of the children and of the families from which they come?
I am aware of the inadequacy of the provisions in this respect at Marlborough House and for that reason a new place of detention at Finglas is in the course of erection at a cost of £250,000. It will incorporate all the necessary psychiatric and other welfare services.