asked the Minister for Justice the number of boys and girls under 16 who have been certified unruly and depraved and incarcerated in an adult prison for each year since 1966 inclusive; their distribution in each of the State's adult prisons for each year since 1966; and the average period of incarceration of (a) boys, and (b) girls for each year since 1966.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Young Persons in Adult Prisons.
21.
The information required to enable me to give a full reply to this question is not available and its compilation would involve extensive research which cannot be undertaken at present owing to pressure of work.
In all cases where a boy or girl between 15 and 17 years of age is committed to prison, the warrant from the court must include a certificate that the boy or girl is of so unruly a character that he/she cannot be detained in a place of detention or a certificate that he/she is so depraved a character that he/she is not a fit person to be so detained. A total of 377 boys and 119 girls in this age group were so committed to prison between 1966 and 1977. Of the total committed it is estimated that approximately half were between 15 and 16 years of age.
In the vast majority of cases, the sentence imposed was one month.
The numbers of boys and girls under 17 years of age committed each year since 1966 to Mountjoy and Limerick prisons, which were the only prisons to which such committals were made, are shown on a tabular statement, which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I will have circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Boys and girls under 17 years of age committed to the adult prisons since 1966.
|
Mountjoy |
Limerick |
Total |
||||
|
Boys |
Girls |
Boys |
Girls |
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
1966 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
2 |
10 |
3 |
|
1967 |
1 |
6 |
10 |
— |
11 |
6 |
|
1968 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
10 |
8 |
|
1969 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
0 |
11 |
3 |
|
1970 |
13 |
2 |
16 |
3 |
29 |
5 |
|
1971 |
41 |
5 |
31 |
6 |
72 |
11 |
|
1972 |
15 |
22 |
61 |
9 |
76 |
31 |
|
1973 |
15 |
8 |
19 |
8 |
34 |
16 |
|
1974 |
13 |
5 |
22 |
8 |
35 |
13 |
|
1975 |
3 |
3 |
26 |
0 |
29 |
3 |
|
1976 |
14 |
10 |
17 |
4 |
31 |
14 |
|
1977 |
23 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
29 |
6 |
|
Totals |
145 |
75 |
232 |
44 |
377 |
119 |
Would the Minister agree that this is a serious state of affairs where 500 youngsters, both boys and girls, have been put into jails of this kind which are completely unsuited for their care, assistance and rehabilitation? Is it not another major scandal in relation to our prison service over the years that nothing has been done but to put these youngsters in a position where the majority of them must become criminals for the rest of their lives?
As the Deputy said, there are approximately 500 people between boys and girls in the ten year period, which is an average of 50 a year. This is far too high. It is regrettable. But that is the answer to the question asked.