Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for the future of St. Patrick's Institution; and his policy in regard to youth offenders. [14615/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Youth Justice Service was established as an executive office within my Department to develop an integrated response to youth offending. That Office has published a National Youth Justice Strategy for the period 2008-2010 in which the vision for managing youth offending is clearly set out.

In relation to St Patrick's Institution I would point out that whilst it is currently the designated detention centre for young male offenders aged between 16 and 21 years of age, the Irish Youth Justice Service will ultimately take responsibility for the detention facilities for all boys under 18 years. In that regard construction of the new National Children Detention Facilities is scheduled to take place on a phased basis so as to ensure the continued operation of the existing children detention facilities. It is anticipated that phase 1 should be completed by end 2012 and phase 2 by end 2014. The Deputy will be aware, however, that tendering for the construction of the new facilities will be subject to Government approval and to the necessary funding being made available.

In the interim, the separation of children and young adults in St. Patrick's Institution has taken place in so far as is possible, given the physical limitations of the St. Patrick's site. The Special School (B Division) was opened in April 2007 specifically for this purpose. It has a bed capacity of 44 and is self contained. Inmates aged 16 and 17 now have a residential area, communal dining area, and education, work training and recreational areas that are separate from young adults. This has created a separate and enhanced regime for them.

When the number of such prisoners exceeds 44, priority is given to the 16-year-olds, and those 17-year-olds who cannot be accommodated in the Special School are accommodated in the drug-free D Division of the main institution. A small number of 17-year-olds with specific individual needs are kept in the young adult part of the institution. These include sex offenders and vulnerable inmates who, for their own protection, are accommodated separately.

The new prison facilities at Thornton will have a separate, self-contained, stand alone accommodation unit for 16/17 year old male offenders. The accommodation is being provided as an interim measure pending the provision of the additional accommodation by the Irish Youth Justice Service.