Juvenile Offenders

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2012

Thursday, 9 February 2012

Ceisteanna (201, 202, 203)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

204 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, in view of recommendations made in the Children’s Rights Alliance’s Report Card 2012 to remove children form St. Patrick’s Institution, Dublin, and in view of the repeated concerns expressed by international bodies such as the UN Committee Against Torture and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture regarding the same, she will commit capital funds for 2012 to build the national children’s detention facility in Lusk, County Dublin, and extend the remit of the Ombudsman for Children to oversee the concerns of children in St. Patrick’s Institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7312/12]

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

206 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has met with the Department of Finance to seek capital funding for the construction of the new national children’s detention facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6529/12]

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

207 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date from which children of 16 and 17 years will no longer be held in St. Patrick’s Institution, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6530/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 204, 206 and 207 together

I am in ongoing consultations with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the funding of the proposed National Children Detention Facility in Oberstown, Lusk, Co Dublin and I have recently written to him emphasising the priority that should be attached to this project. I do not propose to comment further on these consultations, except to say that the Deputy can be assured that I will continue to make the case at Government level on the priority that should be given to this project.

Regarding the date from which children will no longer be held in St Patrick's Institution, I refer the Deputy to my reply to question number 4271/12 of 25 January 2012 in this matter. The position is unchanged. I am aware that it is suggested that the remit of the Ombudsman for Children should be extended to take complaints from children resident in St. Patrick's Institution. I have considered this issue and am positively disposed to it, and I will be progressing it with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality in the coming months.