Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There was some crossover when we were talking about prisoners being released from prison and the follow-up in that respect, which I have been concerned about for some time. On the other side, there is the issue of the youth diversion programme and the resources that have been going into it. This is one of the things we see in justice in general. From Garda resources, to the resources in the prisons to the resources in the courts, they all have a trend running through them because the same people, unfortunately, end up passing through all the systems very often.

One of the issues I have been made aware of for quite some time is that of youth detention facilities. There was a case a number of years ago where it was deemed not appropriate for young people to be in adult prisons. However, the only youth detention facility in the country is at Oberstown, which is always full, and we have had dilemmas where there is nowhere to put young people who are perhaps dangerous to themselves and others. The Minister mentioned the Limerick Prison extension and the delays in getting work done. Are there any plans to provide a facility or additional spaces in youth detention facilities?

I want to make a clear it is not that I think it is a good idea to be locking people up but, at the same time, we need to have facilities when they are required. Sometimes, the courts have been put in a terrible situation where they have someone who they clearly do not want to release into society, yet there is nowhere to put them. That situation is untenable as we move forward.