asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that an itinerant woman (details supplied) was sent to prison for one month recently, and that two of her children were later found wandering on the streets by social workers and then taken to St. Mary's Day Care Centre in Townsend Street, Dublin; if the new mandatory procedures to be followed when adult itinerants are detained, or sent to prison, operated in this case; if not, why; and if he will indicate the steps he is taking to ensure that there will not be a recurrence of this situation.
Written Answers. - Treatment of Itinerants.
343.
I am not so aware.
The woman I believe the Deputy to be referring to was arrested about 9.30 p.m. on 13 May for throwing a brick through a car window. She was brought to the station at Coolock and would have been released on bail if her husband, who had agreed to call to the station, had done so. She was in custody for a total of six days. The Garda were told at the time of the arrest that the children of the couple were with her sister in Dún Laoghaire. The Garda, nevertheless, endeavoured to contact the Community Care Centre at Bonnybrook but without success.
Two of the children had been attending the Townsend St. Centre daily and they in fact spent the night of the arrest at the centre. Social workers from both the corporation and the county council were familiar with the family situation.
In the circumstances, the gardaí concerned appear to have acted very reasonably.