asked the Minister for Justice the Government's intentions regarding the future of Loughan House, County Cavan; and when the future of this secure detention centre will be made known.
18.
Written Answers. - Loughan House.
17.
asked the Minister for Justice the age groups and type of offender he plans to have detained at Loughan House, County Cavan.
19.
asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to retain the services of persons (details supplied) who have provided counselling and medical attention at Loughan House to cater for the needs of any new offenders who may be detained there.
20.
asked the Minister for Justice if he has had any talks with staff representatives of Loughan House, County Cavan regarding its future use; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
21.
asked the Minister for Justice if it is intended to make Loughan House an open institution to accommodate up to 90 offenders; and if he considers this a feasible proposition in view of the fact that existing open institutions are under-utilised.
22.
asked the Minister for Justice the intentions of the Government in relation to the use of Loughan House, County Cavan; and if all the existing staff will be retained there.
(Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 22, inclusive, together.
Following on the transfer of the 12-16 year-old boys to Trinity House, Oberstown, Lusk, County Dublin, the new secure school built and staffed by the Department of Education, arrangements have been made to use Loughan House as a centre to accommodate a considerable number of prisoners, perhaps more than 100 in due course. The first group of prisoners was transferred there on 17 May last and 60 prisoners are now detained at the centre.
Broadly speaking, those accommodated in Loughan House are young adult male prisoners considered suitable, having regard to their offence, length of sentence and so on for the more open conditions there as compared with St. Patrick's or the closed prisons.
The need for the services of the domestic staff who had been employed temporarily while Loughan House was being run as a special school ceased with the change of usage (for example, domestic chores are now carried out by prisoners) and they were declared redundant. The presence in the institution at all times of a qualified nurse was thought desirable while Loughan House was being run as a special school particularly as boys were often committed directly from the courts without having had any prior medical examination or attention. In the present circumstances at Loughan House all prisoners transferred there will have spent some time in either Cork, Mountjoy or St. Patrick's and will have been medically screened before transfer. Appropriate counselling will, of course, continue to be provided. I should like to place on record my appreciation of the contribution made by the temporary staff to Loughan House while it was a special school.
The present usage of Loughan House was discussed with staff representatives on several occasions.
No difficulty has been encountered in identifying prisoners suitable for transfer to Loughan. The other open centres, Shelton Abbey and Shanganagh Castle, are fully utilised at all times.