Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the Report of the Expert Group on Children's Detention Services which recommends the development of 167 places for young persons detained by the courts; if the provision of this number of places is still his objective and if not the number of places that he plans to provide; the basis for this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19604/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Following consideration of the report of the interdepartmental Expert Group on Children Detention Schools, in March 2008 the Government approved the development of new national children detention facilities at Oberstown, Lusk, Co. Dublin.

The estimate by the Expert Group of the likely future capacity demand of 167 places was based on an analysis of trends in juvenile detention along with data sets from An Garda Siochana, the National Juvenile Office, the Courts Service (and others) and general population projections produced by the Central Statistics Office for the under 18 age group. The Irish Youth Justice Service continues to keep the capacity requirement under review, as recommended in the report of the Expert Group. This report is available on www.iyjs.ie.

The design stage of the new facilities is well advanced with both concept and sketch designs to deliver 167 places on the Oberstown Campus having been completed. Work is due to commence on preparing detailed designs so that Request for Tenders documentation for the construction stage of the project can be drawn up.

The Deputy will be aware that tendering for construction of the new facilities will be subject to Government approval and to the necessary funding being made available.