Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he remains committed to introducing primary legislation for the purpose of closing St. Patrick’s Institution, Dublin, as a detention centre for offenders aged 21 and under in view of the Inspector’s shocking report on the prison and if so what he plans to do with this group of prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14622/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that as part of the Irish Prison Service 3-Year Strategic Plan 2012-2015 the Prison Service is devising a specific strategy for the management of young offenders, working with its partners and other agencies to ensure that the regime for young offenders is age appropriate and that best practise is observed.

Central to this strategy is a review the overall approach taken to the placement of 18-21 year olds throughout the system. In this regard, I can confirm that it remains my intention to introduce primary legislation for the purpose of closing St. Patrick's Institution as a detention centre for persons aged 21 and under.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is considering using St Patrick’s Institution, Dublin, to house sex offenders or protection prisoners, as per page 18 of the Labour Relations Commission proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14623/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that I intend to introduce primary legislation for the purpose of closing St. Patrick's Institution as a detention centre for persons aged 21 and under. As part of the Irish Prison Service 3-Year Strategic Plan 2012-2015 the Prison Service is devising a specific strategy for the management of young offenders. Central to this strategy is a review the overall approach taken to the placement of 18-21 year olds throughout the system.

As stated in the Labour Relations Commission Proposals for Public Service Agreement, the Irish Prison Service has undertaken to review the operation of St Patrick’s Institution to consider whether it might be used to accommodate prisoners who have been sentenced for sex offences or those who require protection. However, as the Deputy is aware the Labour Relations Commission proposal is currently subject to consideration by the staff associations who may decide to accept or reject the proposal. Accordingly, this review cannot commence until this process has been completed and the proposal accepted by the staff associations. Therefore, It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage of the process.