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.