Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 23: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of young offenders in St. Patrick's Institution; and the number of young offenders who have repeatedly spent time in St Patrick's. [31498/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to inform the Deputy that on 17 September, 2009 there were 223 young offenders in custody in St. Patrick's Institution. Of these 223 persons, 62 were under 18 years of age with the remaining 161 aged between 18 and 21 years of age.

An accurate breakdown of statistics as requested by the Deputy is not available without the manual examination of a considerable amount of records going back over a considerable time period. Such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources.

In March 2008, the Government approved the development of new national children detention facilities on the Oberstown campus near Lusk, Co. Dublin, which will accommodate all under 18 year olds who have been ordered to be detained by the Courts.

The project is currently at the design stage and it is expected that the tendering process for construction should take place in 2010. Construction is expected to be undertaken in phases with the first phase scheduled to be completed by 2012.

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.