Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the sections of the Children Act 2001 for which she has responsibility and which have not yet been commenced; and if she will report on her intentions in this regard. [12294/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Part 10 of the Children Act 2001 relates to the governance and operation of children detention schools. Section 159(1) of the Act has been developed for the purpose of allowing three representatives of children detention schools to be appointed to the special residential services board. Part 10 of the Act cannot be developed more fully at this time as its effect will include replacing the existing industrial and reformatory schools with children detention schools. While boys aged between 17 and 21 who are convicted of a criminal offence may be sent to a place of detention, there is no equivalent place at present for female offenders who may be imprisoned from the age of 17 years. It is intended that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will provide a facility for young women similar to that provided for boys.

However, until such a facility becomes available, part 10 of the Act cannot be brought into law. Pending commencement, industrial and reformatory schools continue to be governed by the Children Acts.