Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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55. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she and or her Department has identified any particular deficiencies in the availability of institutional or custodial care for juveniles or minor offenders; if any particular evaluation has been carried out to the requirement in this regard with particular reference to the need to ensure the availability of supervised or institutional care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32498/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to custodial accommodation for persons under the age of 18 years, which corresponds to the definition of a child under the Children Act, 2001. At this time, custodial accommodation for those under 18 years is provided on the Oberstown campus, Lusk, Co Dublin and in St Patrick's Institution, Dublin 7. The Oberstown campus accommodates boys aged up to 17 years old and girls up to 18 years of age. Accommodation is currently provided for 17 year old boys in St Patrick's Institution, Dublin 7 which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.

The legal detention capacity of the Oberstown campus comprises 24 male bed spaces in Trinity House School, 8 female bed spaces in Oberstown Girls School, and 20 male bed spaces in Oberstown Boys School. However, only 16 of the certified 24 male bed spaces in Trinity House School are currently available for use due to staffing shortages. The Irish Youth Justice Service, which is based in my Department, is currently in discussions with management and staff on the Oberstown campus on an initiative to reorganise the detention capacity for males and female bed places, in order to meet the increased demand for male bed places from the courts. This is being progressed so as to achieve its earliest possible commencement.

With regard to future accommodation, on 2 April 2012 I announced a capital investment package for the National Children Detention Facility project in Oberstown. This project is required in order to give effect to the Programme for Government commitment to end the practice of detaining children in adult prison facilities. I have outlined my commitment to this project on many different occasions and it remains at the top of my agenda. My officials have, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works, completed the design process and secured planning permission for the capital development. The tender process is ongoing at present and this is being overseen by a steering group of officials from my Department and the Office of Public Works. A further announcement on the outcome of the tendering process will be made shortly. The new facilities will increase the capacity on the campus available to the courts from the current maximum capacity of 52 places to 90 places. I am advised that based on recent trends, this should be sufficient to meet the requirements of the courts for children detention places.