Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and agree with all of his comments. What is the exact timeline for closing St. Patrick's Institution? His reply did not include that information. I asked about the investigation under the stewardship of the director general, which the Minister also referred to in his reply.

Will there be outside input into that investigation from An Garda Síochána?

Judge Michael Reilly indicated in his report that the visiting committees appeared to be carrying out their function under the 1925 Act, which is a little vague. Is there a deficiency in the role or remit of the visiting committee? Why did it not pick up what the Inspector of Prisons did through his dedicated work? There is a value for money report from 2009 in the Minister's Department dealing with community service and probation. The argument is that the capacity could be increased threefold, so rather than having a policy of detaining those aged 16 and 17, we should consider seriously the rehabilitation of these people through more community service. The extra capacity has been outlined in that report.

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