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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Dec 1978

Vol. 310 No. 9

Written Answers. - Loughan House.

255.

asked the Minister for Justice the current arrangements for visits to Loughan House, County Cavan, by parents of boys in custody there; and the cost, if any, to the parents concerned.

The current arrangements for visits to Loughan House are similar to arrangements under a scheme operated by the Department of Education for visits to children in the other special schools. This involves the issue of free travel vouchers once a month to two members of the boys' immediate families. A free minibus service is available on Saturdays and Sundays and on other days if needed to bring visitors from Sligo railway station to Loughan House and back. Apart from the cost of meals, costs to visitors would arise mainly where they make other travel arrangements and I have no way of knowing what those costs would be.

256.

asked the Minister for Justice if discipline at Loughan House, County Cavan, is governed by a set of regulations drawn up by his Department or the staff of the institution; and if he will make a copy of any such regulations available in the Oireachtas Library.

Work is in progress on the drafting of rules for Loughan House and they will be made available as soon as they have been finalised.

257.

asked the Minister for Justice if the regulations currently in force at Loughan House, County Cavan, forbid smoking by (a) boys in custody, or (b) members of staff; and whether he will consider amending the regulations in the interests of good management of the institution.

The boys are not allowed to smoke. Apart from any other consideration, it would not appear to be open to the management of the school to permit the boys to smoke having regard to the provisions of sections 39 and 40 of the Childrens Act, 1908.

The staff have agreed not to smoke in the presence of the boys.

258.

asked the Minister for Justice the number of children presently confined in Loughan House, County Cavan; their ages and the length of sentence which each has received; and whether all those involved are expected to be in custody on 25 December 1978.

There are 16 children in Loughan House at present. All have been committed for two years. Two are aged between 13 and 14 years; three between 14 and 15 and eleven between 15 and 16. All are expected to be in custody on Christmas day.

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