merrion street

Minister Frances Fitzgerald acknowledged the comments made today in the Dublin Children Court, in relation to the detention of young people and she reiterated that substantial reforms have been implemented in relation to the issue.

The Minister said:

For the first time under this Government we do not have 16 year olds being sent to adult prisons. For decades, this state locked sixteen year old boys in adult prisons, we have stopped that. This Government has grasped the challenge of ensuring that proper facilities will be available in a suitable setting by committing €50 million to the development of a new campus at Oberstown.

In the last three years since the decision was made to end the use of adult prisons for sixteen year olds, there has been effectively a threefold increase in 16 year olds detained by order of the court

My Department is working closely with the Board of Management to resolve the staffing issues which have delayed the opening of an 8 bed unit in Trinity House School. I am anxious that these additional spaces are made available as soon as possible,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

The Minister assumed legal responsibility for the Children Detention Schools (CDS) in Oberstown on 1 January 2012.

This project is on target and will result in sufficient capacity to extend the child care model of detention to all young people under the age of 18 years by mid – 2014 when construction of additional accommodation is completed. Construction of the project is due to start on site in July.

Minister Fitzgerald said:

The forthcoming Children (Amendment) Bill will give effect to the amalgamation of the three children detention schools and is an important step to complete the integration reform process which has been underway in this sector in recent years.

The Minister added:

This new bill will underpin and build on successes achieved to-date at that site in relation to the more efficient use of resources, common policies across the schools and improved capacity for implementing the child care model of detention. The Bill will also facilitate the necessary legal changes to cater for the transfer of responsibility for all children under 18 years from St. Patrick’s Institution to the children detention schools.

The Minister concluded:

Major operational reform is underway with significant changes in historic work practices already implemented. These productivity improvements will allow the full facilities on the site to be used to address the increase in court demands.

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