Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Juvenile Detention Centres.
- Juvenile detention facilities and capacity 2 speeches
The Minister lists current accommodation for male offenders aged 16–21, including St. Patrick’s Institution and Shanganagh Castle, and describes temporary planned accommodation.
Seán Treacy, Gerard Collins
- Summer education at St. Patrick’s Institution 2 speeches
Asked about educational provision during the summer, the Minister says negotiations over staffing are ongoing and promises to share further information if possible.
Michael Keating, Gerard Collins
asked the Minister for Justice the name, location and capacity of each place of detention for juvenile offenders; and if he will give the same information in respect of places of detention which are planned or in the course of construction.
Comment on this
Male offenders between the ages of 16 and 21 are at present accommodated in two places of detention:
1. St. Patrick's Institution, North Circular Road, Dublin, which can accommodate 205 juveniles on the general basis of one person per cell, and 2. Shanganagh Castle Open Centre, Shanganagh, County Dublin, which has cubicle accommodation at present for 45 juveniles.
For the next two or three years and purely as a temporary arrangement until the Department of Education have provided further accommodation for boys who need residential placement, Loughan House, Blacklion, County Cavan, which at present is an open centre for males between 16 and 23, will be made available to accommodate boys between the ages of 12 and 16 years, who, because of their behavioural problems or their tendency to abscond, are not currently acceptable in the existing special schools. The other special schools for this age group are under the aegis of the Department of Education.
Future plans include the provision of a replacement for St. Patrick's in Dublin and at least one other place of detention elsewhere for the 16 to 21 age-group. It is not possible at this stage to give the particulars asked for in respect of the proposed institutions.
Comment on this
On the general picture, can the Minister indicate whether any progress has been made regarding the educational situation during the summer holidays, particularly in so far as St. Patrick's Institution is concerned? In a previous reply the Minister indicated his concern in this matter.
Comment on this
The Deputy is well aware that I share his concern regarding the staffing problem in respect of education in the institution during the summer months. Negotiations on this question are in progress but they are rather delicate. I do not know whether the Deputy is a member of a teachers' union but I am sure he will understand that there are unions involved. I cannot tell him the exact stage at which the negotiations are but if I find it possible to do so, I shall communicate that information to him shortly.