Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will clarify his commitment to develop a new national children detention facility at Oberstown near Lusk, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17062/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Significant progress has already been made in the development of the new national children detention facilities. Concept designs and sketch designs completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) have been approved by the Steering Committee established to oversee progress on the project. At its meeting on 1st April 2010, the Steering Committee considered the planning requirements for the project and consultation is now underway with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and the Office of the Attorney General with a view to identifying the most appropriate planning process for the project.

Work is due to start shortly on developing detailed designs in consultation with the various stakeholders so that Request for Tenders documentation for the construction phase of the project can be prepared. Sufficient capital funding has been provided this year to progress the planning and design of the facilities. The completion date for the new facilities will be subject to the planning process to be followed but it is hoped, subject to any requirements that the planning authorities may have, that Phase 1 of the project could be completed by mid-2013.

Funding for the project has been earmarked in the National Development Plan. As with all capital projects of this nature, expenditure will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure value for money and tendering for the construction of the new facilities will be subject to Government approval and to the necessary funding being made available.