Written answers

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Juvenile Offenders

8:00 pm

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to ensure that child care legislation and standards that apply to the detention of children in other settings also apply to children in St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin, including those regarding health, education, child protection and qualifications and training of staff. [35661/11]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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St. Patrick's Institution is a closed medium security place of detention for males aged 16 to 21 years of age and accommodates both remand and sentenced prisoners. As far as practicable, 16 and 17 year olds are kept in a separate wing with single cell accommodation. In the longer term, the Irish Youth Justice Service, an office of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, will take responsibility for managing the detention facilities for all boys under 18 years of age.

In the meantime, the Irish Prison Service has developed guidelines for child protection and welfare procedures for St. Patrick's Institution which are being amended to reflect Children First - National Guidance, 2011. The Prison Service is aware of the need for an age-appropriate regime and the importance of keeping 16 and 17 year olds separate from over 18s. It endeavours to ensure continuity of services with systems of care reviewed in partnership with key agencies such as the HSE, Gardaí, Probation Service and the Irish Youth Justice Service.

There is ongoing contact with the Irish Youth Justice Service on the exchange of best practices for addressing the needs of the 16 and 17 year olds currently detained in St Patrick's. A separate school was opened in 2007 and various initiatives have been taken to improve facilities and services and to reduce the potential for contact with those aged 18 and over. Education is provided in partnership with the City of Dublin VEC and there is currently an allocation of 20 whole-time equivalent teachers.

An extensive health programme is also available with all committals seen by surgery staff in the first instance. Part of their initial assessment includes a mental health component and all committals are referred to the GP within 24 hours. A scheduled request is made to the next available mental health clinic if there are any indications that mental health review or treatment is necessary and the Community Psychiatric Nurse reviews all committals on a weekly basis.

Senior managers from St Patrick's have also visited the Oberstown complex on a number of occasions and further visits aimed at the exchange of best practice are planned. Discussions have taken place on areas of cooperation between the Irish Prison Service and the Irish Youth Justice Service with a view to developing a new Child Policy for St Patrick's Institution aimed at enhanced delivery of age appropriate services, linking with external services during and after detention, and ensuring best practice while in detention.

In addition, the Irish Prison Service Training and Development Centre recently developed a programme for staff in St Patrick's working with children. They looked at practice in other jurisdictions and discussed requirements with staff and management in St Patrick's and with external experts. This course is currently being rolled out and delivered through modules which include Adolescent Development, Family Unit, and Restorative Justice/Victim Empathy.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Children has also engaged with the management and inmates of St Patrick's on a number of issues. Recently, the Ombudsman's Office facilitated the production of committal information booklets for new committals which are designed and written in a user friendly format.

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