Vol. 568 No. 5
297 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science when it is expected that the new ?5 million unit at Trinity House will be operational; the reason for the delay in opening it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16970/03]
Trinity House school is one of the five children detention schools under the aegis of my Department. It provides secure accommodation for the most seriously disturbed young male offenders in the country, catering for boys up to the age of 16 years on admission who have been committed through the courts for periods of two to four years. It is also registered by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as a place of detention.
The national unit for secure care at Trinity House school has been developed by my Department to meet its obligations to provide residential places under the Children Act 2001. This highly specialised unit will provide short-term crisis intervention programmes for six young people displaying the most challenging behaviour. Building work on the new unit has now been completed and the building is undergoing a commissioning period. My Department is considering proposals for the provision of staffing in the unit.
298 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of step-down beds in the step-down unit in Trinity House; the number occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16971/03]
Trinity House school is one of the five children detention schools under the aegis of my Department. It provides secure accommodation for the most seriously disturbed young male offenders in the country, catering for boys up to the age of 16 years on admission who have been committed through the courts for periods of two to four years. It is also registered by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as a place of detention.
The step-down unit at Trinity House school provides short-term accommodation for three young people in the process of leaving the secure care of the school. It also provides a tracking system, work placement programme and an outreach programme for all residents leaving the school. One young person is using the facility periodically for emergency outreach support. A second individual's admission to the unit is planned after his certificate examinations are completed and a further admittance is planned for July.
299 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of juvenile offenders who were present overnight in Trinity House on 12 June 2003; the number of places available in Trinity House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16972/03]
Trinity House school is one of the five children detention schools under the aegis of my Department. It provides secure accommodation for the most seriously disturbed young male offenders in the country, catering for boys up to the age of 16 years on admission who have been committed through the courts for periods of two to four years. It is also registered by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as a place of detention.
The school's current operational capacity is 27 places, of which three are in the step-down unit and the remaining 24 provide for the committal and remand placements. On the night of 12 June 2003, of the 24 remand and committal beds, 16 beds were physically occupied, a further four beds were assigned to young people who were not present, leaving four beds available for placements. During the period January to May 2003 the occupancy level has been 71%. Two committals are planned for Trinity House school over the coming weeks.
Question No. 300 answered with Question No. 247.
