Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which the Oberstown, County Dublin, facility will be fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56779/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware I announced on 2 April 2012, following agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, an investment package for the project to expand the detention places and facilities on the Oberstown campus.

My officials in the Irish Youth Justice Service continue to work closely to progress this project with the Office of Public Works (OPW). The projected timeline estimate from OPW indicates that the first new residential units, to provide sufficient capacity to enable the transfer of responsibility for 17 year old boys from St. Patrick's Institution, will be available for use by mid 2014. The completion of this phase of the project will enable the extension of the child care model of detention to all under 18 year olds ordered to be detained by the courts.

The overall redevelopment project for the campus, which will also replace some existing outdated buildings and deliver education, visiting and other ancillary facilities, is currently scheduled for completion by mid 2015.