Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 399: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a secure unit at Trinity House in Dublin under the aegis of his Department at a cost of €4 million was built, is completed, and remains unoccupied since the building work on this project was completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7445/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On 1 March 2007 the four children detention schools, based in Finglas and Oberstown, were transferred from the Department of Education and Science to the Irish Youth Justice Service of my Department.

Three of the children detention schools are located at Oberstown, Co. Dublin, and facilities include a stand alone six-bed unit which is, I believe, the unit to which the Deputy refers. This unit had been completed in 2003 under the supervision of the Department of Education and Science. Following the transfer of responsibility, the Irish Youth Justice Service recommissioned and furnished the unit. This facilitated the transfer of girls and staff from an older facility which formed part of Oberstown Girls School. The new unit, Cuan Beag, provides an improved standard of accommodation.

Cuan Beag is now operational as part of Oberstown Girls School and was formally opened by the Minister for Children on 7 September 2007.