Vol. 408 No. 2
3 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a case in the juvenile court on 12 February 1991 in which four youths, who were convicted of taking seven cars, were released by the district justice because there was no secure centre to hold the offenders; if she will outline the steps she is taking to deal with this unsatisfactory situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The matter of the number of young people who are appearing before the courts for serious offences is one of concern to all involved with this problem. In addition to the secure centre administered by the Department of Justice for young male offenders aged 16 to 21 years, my Department operate a secure centre for boys aged 12 to 17 years. The number of offenders from time to time referred by the courts for secure detention varies considerably and may at times exceed the institutional capacity available as happened in the particular case referred to.
I should, however, point out that arrangements are already well advanced for the provision of additional custodial places for young offenders. Work on refurbishing the former Scoil Árd Mhuire in Lusk is proceeding on schedule and this facility, when ready in September of this year, will provide an extra 36 places for boys and eight to ten places for girls. In addition, plans have been drawn up for the construction of a new centre for 20 girls in Finglas. This centre, which is projected for completion in mid-1993, will allow the female occupants of Oberstown girls centre and those on the adjacent Árd Mhuire site to be relocated in Finglas, thus freeing further places for boys in the Lusk centre.
In addition to the specific measures being taken by my Department, the Government have appointed Deputy Chris Flood, Minister of State at the Department of Health, with an overall co-ordinating role in the child care area. This will ensure that the input of the various Departments involved in this area will be as efficient and effective as possible.
Would the Minister agree that young people are released from courts daily because there is no secure remand unit in which to detain them? One of the facts that emerged in the case I referred to was that 11 warrants were issued in respect of the main culprit who just walked away from the courts on previous occasions.
It is accepted that there is an urgent problem in this area and the absence of secure facilities is undoubtedly an urgent priority. With this in mind, the Government are taking urgent action to provide the necessary places on a short term and long term basis.
A very brief question, Deputy McCartan. I wanted to dispose of the other questions, but that does not seem possible now.
As regards the developments in relation to Árd Mhuire in Lusk, what age group will be accommodated there? Could the Minister indicate the input his Department had into the development of the curriculum of that and other units in terms of providing rehabilitative programmes for young people who are housed in these institutions?
Scoil Árd Mhuire in Lusk will provide an extra 36 places for boys and eight to ten places for girls.
Of what age group?
From 12 to 17 years of age. The facilities will, of course, provide for a programme of rehabilitation. The most important prerogative in these centres is to try to give these children a sense of responsibility. The Government are determined to provide as many resources as possible through the Departments of Health, Justice and Education to ensure that we give as good an education as possible to the occupants of these centres.
Question No. 4 please.
Finally——
If Deputy McCormack's question is to be answered it must be taken now.
Could I urge the Minister to consider the question of remand facilities?
Please, Deputy McCartan, be fair. Let us have regard to other questions also.
