Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 28 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 5

Written Answers. - Young Offenders' Educational Review.

Mary Coughlan

Ceist:

27 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Education when she proposes to carry out a review of educational provision for young offenders as promised in the report of the special education review committee published in 1993. [6596/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The recommendation to which the Deputy refers reflected the view of the special education review committee that educational provision for young offenders merited special separate consideration outside of the general special needs areas addressed in the committee's report.

Before conducting such a review, it is necessary to have accurate information on the categories of children to be catered for in these centres in the future and the range of special educational needs which will require to be addressed.

In this connection, the House will be aware that the Government recently approved the general scheme of a new children Bill which sets down the framework for the future delivery of services to children in need of special care and those coming into conflict with the law.

Arising from the measures proposed in the Bill, my Department is currently reviewing the level and range of facilities which will be required in the future to cater for children placed into custody by the courts. Once this review has been completed it will be possible to identify with some assurance the categories of children for whom provision will be required in the young offender centres. This in turn will facilitate the review to which the Deputy refers.