Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Dec 1993

Vol. 436 No. 7

Written Answers. - Detention of Female Offender.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

119 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice if, arising from her reply to a parliamentary question of 6 October 1993, she will give the progress, if any, that has been made by her Department, the Department of Health and the Department of Education in providing suitable accommodation for the person (details supplied) referred to therein.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

My Department caters for the detention of young female offenders aged 17 years and over when convicted and sentenced to detention by the courts. Female offenders under that age cannot be sent to prison or places of detention operated by my Department except in the special circumstances provided for in sections 97 and 102 of the Children's Act, 1908. The courts may commit young female offenders between the ages of 12 and less than 17 to special schools. The provision of special school accommodation is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education.

Discussions have taken place between officials from the Departments of Health, Education and Justice to consider how best to meet the needs of the person concerned. It is considered that, unless there is a requirement for custody on conviction for criminal offences, the person concerned should be cared for in a Department of Health facility. I am informed that the Department of Health will be in a position to make available appropriate accommodation next month. I understand that she is living with her parents at present.