Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:443. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in detention centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51100/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 29 November 2017
Ceisteanna (443)
Freagraí scríofa
As of this morning (28/11/2017), there are currently 49 children detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus. Oberstown is the national children detention campus. Of the 49 children, 18 are remanded by the courts and 31 are serving a period of detention following a conviction by the courts. Of the 18 on remand, 17 are male and 1 is female. Of the 31 on committal, 30 are male and 1 is female.
There are also 10 children currently on the pilot Bail Supervision Scheme who otherwise would have been remanded in custody to Oberstown by the courts. The Bail Supervision Scheme provides more therapeutic supports in the community for children who are subject to bail conditions. The service provides a ‘wraparound’ service to the young person and their family with a prescribed reporting system back to the courts through the appropriate statutory bodies; Probation Service, An Garda Síochána and Oberstown. The scheme offers a particular option to the courts not to detain the child in Oberstown, in the knowledge that closer monitoring will take place through interaction with the young people, their families and communities.