Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason 147 children were placed in adult prisons since January 2005; the reason they breached international treaties in the process; his proposals regarding the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31111/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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In October 2004, I established an internal project team within my Department to examine the scope for rationalising and restructuring the delivery of the State's services in the area of youth justice in accordance with the Children Act 2001. The Minister of State with special responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is examining the outcome of this review. The intention is to bring proposals arising from this examination to Government in the very near future, including proposals in the area of detention.

Since 1 January 2005, 151 children, persons aged under 18 years, have been committed to the custody of the Irish Prison Service on foot of court orders. Of that 151, only 21, 14 males and seven females, were committed to an adult prison. The remaining 130 were all males committed to St. Patrick's Institution which is the designated detention centre for males aged between 16 and 21 years of age. Every effort is made to separate juvenile offenders from the general prison population in each institution and as indicated earlier, the vast majority of juvenile offenders are held in St. Patrick's Institution.