David Norris (Independent)

We should get down to it so I strongly support the Senator in this matter. Yesterday, in the debate on the Criminal Procedure Bill, I asked the Minister questions about the children's detention centre. I did not anticipate that the issue would explode today with the publication of a Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, report into the centre for severely disturbed children in Ballydowd. Will the Leader get the Minister into the House to answer questions about this? It is astonishing that €30 million was spent nine years ago and yet the infrastructure has deteriorated to such a state that it is uninhabitable by these children.

Senator Coffey raised the question of planning and this is a case in which I took a great interest. We should be very grateful to The Irish Times for giving a full report of this case about planning, and it raises questions in this case as well. Apparently the planning authorities have allowed residential accommodation to develop which overlooks directly into the area and violates the privacy of these young people. There are insufficient staff and eight staff are involved in disciplinary procedures at the moment. Insufficient and inaccurate records are kept and some records have not been kept of serious incidents involving the children. Parents have not been informed and we do not know if the children will be moved.

As the Upper House, we have a duty to inquire about where these disturbed children will be sent and under what conditions they will be kept. Who is responsible for the bad management of this facility, in which €30 million of taxpayers' was invested nine years ago and, owing to lack of upkeep, it appears to be uninhabitable and bad for these already traumatised children? Will the Leader invite the Minister to the House to give Members answers on these important questions?