Juveniles’ reading levels at St. Patrick’s
The Minister acknowledged that 89.9 per cent of juveniles at St. Patrick’s had a reading age of 12 or under, but said he could not explain why. He expressed concern and agreed the matter could be raised with the Minister for Education.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that according to the 1974 Prisons Report, 89.9 per cent of the juveniles in St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin have a reading age of 12 or under; and, if so, why.
Comment on this
I am so aware. As Minister for Justice I am not in any way specially qualified to explain why the reading age of a large proportion of persons committed to custody is low.
Comment on this
Would the Minister not agree that he has an overall responsibility for the institution and therefore for the educational arrangements in it? Is he worried about the state of affairs, and would he propose to bring the report concerned to the attention of the education experts who work for that institution?
Comment on this
Certainly there is no reason to say that the Minister is not worried about the position, but the question asked was why juveniles in prison were in this unfortunate situation. There is no doubt that the Minister is concerned and, as the Deputy says, it would be no harm to put it to the Minister for Education.