74 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the places and supports in place for young offenders; the number of residential and remand places available; the staffing of same; the annual costs for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8322/02]

81 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science the total number of places available and their location for young offenders; and the current number of vacancies in each case. [9202/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 81 together.

My Department has statutory responsibility for the provision of residential places for children up to the age of 16 years who are referred by the courts. There are five young offender centres under the aegis of my Department. They are:

Trinity House, Oberstown, Lusk, County Dublin

Oberstown Boys Centre, Oberstown, Lusk, County Dublin

Oberstown Girls Centre, Oberstown, Lusk, County Dublin

Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre, Kildonan Road, Finglas West, Dublin 11, and

St. Joseph's Special School, Ferryhouse, Clonmel, County Tipperary.

The centres provide residential care, education and training programmes for the children remanded or committed by the courts. The focus of these programmes is to change the offending behaviour of the children and prepare them for reintegration following release. Individual care plans are devised to meet the needs of each young person in order to ensure that these are addressed in a holistic and comprehensive way.