James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for juvenile detention centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21161/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Following the commencement of provisions of the Children Act 2001, as amended, responsibility for children detention schools transferred from the Minister for Education and Science to the remit of my Department on 1st March 2007. There are currently 4 schools in operation, 3 at Oberstown, Lusk, Co. Dublin and 1 at Finglas, Dublin 11. As the Deputy may be aware the development of new children detention facilities has been included as a priority of the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013.

In March this year, having considered the report of the interdepartmental Expert Group on Children Detention Schools, the Government agreed that all developments of the new detention school service should take place on the Oberstown campus. This development will include the replacement of older building stock and the creation of sufficient new places to accommodate 16 and 17 year old boys, who will then no longer be detained in St. Patrick's Institution. The Irish Youth Justice Service is consulting relevant stakeholders in preparation for the design phase of the project and is at an early stage in developing its plans.

The Government has also agreed to set up a working group to consider a possible future role for the centre on the Finglas site (Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre) which will cease to operate as a children detention school when the new development is completed.

Detention is a measure of last resort in responding to youth crime. It is, however, a necessary measure for the protection of society and to meet the needs of a small number of young people. The development of detention school services will be based on international best practice and will provide modern, safe and secure facilities for the protection of our communities and to support the rehabilitation of young offenders.