Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support this amendment and, indeed, all of the amendments that have been tabled. The Group 2 amendments came out of the debate in the Seanad on the Bill. The Minister is making the Bill consistent and I thank him once again for accepting my amendment in the Seanad.

I wholeheartedly support this Bill. The amalgamation of the three detention schools on the Oberstown site into one legal entity is essential for the success of the child detention system. I look forward to the publication of the prison Bill which will facilitate the complete closure of St. Pat's.

On the amendment, ending the detention of children in the adult prison system in Ireland is a most significant improvement, albeit long overdue, in the promotion and protection of children's rights in Ireland. However, the change of policy whereby those aged 16 and 17 years are being remanded and committed to the new facility will not be without its challenges. In fact, they are pre-empted in numerous places in the St. Pat's visiting committee report for 2014.

The reality is that the new cohort, particular those aged 17, are physically bigger, present with more challenging behaviour and are detained on more serious charges. Indeed, it would be useful if we tracked any trends and changes in the profile of offences children are being placed on remanded and committed for detention. I understand the changing dynamic between staff and the younger children in the units because of this increase in the age cohort whereby they cannot be seen to be complying with or buying into the programme. I refer to the influence of the 17 year old on the younger child, and they are from the same area. There are issues in that regard of which we need to be mindful. I believe we need a risk assessment along with specific and ongoing training for staff to deal with these new challenges. I am using the opportunity presented by this amendment to reiterate my concerns. What the Minister is doing here is excellent but I would advise him to ask for a risk assessment on this new challenge.