Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy was not present when I dealt with this specific point. The idea is that we would have a recognised official in the prison at senior level who will take responsibility for this issue and that, for example, the prison education service would have a specific role to play, a point made earlier by Deputy O'Dowd. Deputy Boyle is correct that a disturbingly high proportion of the prison population is young people, but to introduce an automatic system for every person of 18 years to be registered before all issues are resolved, such as where they reside or what constituency they would be associated with, would be fraught with evident difficulties. The problem the Deputy addresses, namely, the specific issue of getting young prisoners registered, is a matter that will be dealt with during the reception process, when their right to register to vote will be dealt with.

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