Written answers

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Young Offenders

5:00 am

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he, directly or in conjunction with other Departments, examined the need for the provision of accommodation for young offenders with a view to breaking the sequence of crime in which they have become involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19504/09]

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Youth Justice Service is responsible for the provision of accommodation for young offenders detained by the courts in the 4 Children Detention Schools and I am satisfied that there is adequate provision to meet the demands of the courts in this regard.

The National Youth Justice Strategy (2008-2010) was published in March 2008 and sets out a range of agreed objectives across a number of government departments and agencies. A copy of the Strategy is available on the Irish Youth Justice Service website www. iyjs.ie. The Strategy aims to provide a partnership approach among agencies dealing with young offenders and has seen the continued development of a system focused on reducing offending and improving outcomes for both young people and communities. Based on the recent reforms in the youth justice area and the provisions of the Children Act 2001 ( as amended), the Strategy aims to reduce offending behaviour by diverting young people away from the criminal justice system, promoting the use of community sanctions and ensuring that there is a safe and secure environment for those young people who have been ordered to be detained by the Courts. Where children are detained, the aim is to assist their early reintegration and to link in with appropriate services in the community on their release.

Arising from a Government decision in March 2008, new national children detention facilities are scheduled to be developed at Oberstown, Co. Dublin to provide sufficient detention places for all children under the age of 18 years ordered to be detained by the Courts and to facilitate the delivery of individualised programmes to prepare children to make a positive, productive and law abiding contribution to society. The development will increase the accommodation capacity in the children detention schools from 77 to 167 places and will include places for 16 and 17 year old boys currently detained in St. Patrick's Institution.

This project is currently at the design stage and it is expected that the tendering process for the construction phase should take place in 2010. 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.

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