Vol. 516 No. 2
13 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of juvenile offenders in residential centres; the proportion of these who have been previously in residential detention; and the process of tracking and support provided by his Department when these children are released from detention. [7266/00]
A total of 146 juvenile offenders were in the care of the special residential schools for juvenile offenders operating under my Department on 3 March 2000. Of these children, 44 had been in residential care in the schools on previous occasions.
Planned programmes of care and education are developed for each child placed in the juvenile offender facilities. The programmes in question include elements to prepare the child for re-entry into the community following completion of his or her sentence. Children are not released from a juvenile offender facility without a discharge plan being put in place. Such plans provide for discharge on the basis that the child returns to his or her family or relatives or to a hostel or some other suitable supportive environment. Efforts are also made to enrol the children on FÁS courses or to arrange some other suitable employment or training placement. The Probation and Welfare Service works closely with the juvenile offender schools in making such arrangements.
Arrangements also exist whereby juvenile offenders approaching the end of their sentences can be allowed temporary release to participate in training courses or to take up arranged employment on a supervised basis. This process can contribute towards a successful re-integration of the juvenile offender into society.
The House will appreciate that once a child has completed his or her sentence, the juvenile detention centres no longer have formal authority to impose further restrictions on the child. However, it is not uncommon for children who have been in these facilities to maintain contact with the centres and to seek advice and support from time to time when they encounter difficulties. The juv enile offender centres seek to offer all possible support on such occasions.
The importance of effective after care for many of the children who go through the young offender system is recognised in the Children Bill, 1999, which provides for much closer co-operation between the various agencies involved. The Bill also makes specific provision whereby a child leaving a detention centre on completion of sentence may consent to be placed under the supervision of a probation and welfare officer. The need for such arrangements to operate on a voluntary basis arises from the fact that the child will already have paid his or her debt to society through serving the custodial sentence imposed by the court and cannot be further penalised.
Does that figure of 33% for re-admissions indicate that the success of the programme may need to be re-evaluated? Is the Minister satisfied that a young person coming out of a detention centre has sufficient access to mentoring support and the brokerage of appropriate services so that, on a voluntary basis, he or she can be properly monitored, advised and supported? Would he consider a review of that dimension?
Of the 146 young people, how many were being detained by the State despite not having committed any crime? I am thinking about such things as non-school attendance, etc.
What happens in the case where there is no room in a detention centre for a person who has been committed by the courts? This is quite a regular occurrence. Where does such a person go?
The cases which are coming to my Department are ones which come from the courts.
Yes, but what if the centres are full?
That is where the additional accommodation, of which we spoke earlier, and the extra places are involved.
What happens at present?
The courts have expressed themselves satisfied with the actions being taken by the ministry in that area. There is a programme of action.
I am not aware of any case at present where somebody is being refused a place, but where they would go if they cannot get in is obviously a major problem. It is a matter for the Probation and Welfare Service, and whether it can work with them, etc. That is the key problem. That is why it has been identified as a major problem and the investment is now being made in providing the extra places.
The work which is done by people who are helping children as they come out, to which Deputy Bruton referred, needs additional investment and support. I certainly would give extra support in that area because it is particularly important work which is vital for those young people.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
