Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

107. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he continues to engage with juvenile offenders in providing rehabilitative or educational supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43159/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The children detention schools, based in Oberstown, Lusk, Co Dublin, deliver services focused on education and rehabilitation of all young people detained in order to address offending behaviour and support their early re-integration into the community. I am advised that the development project currently nearing completion in Oberstown includes a new purpose - built education, training and recreation facility which came into use in September last. Along with the existing services already being provided, these new facilities will ensure sufficient age and ability appropriate facilities to support the delivery, by the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board, of the necessary education and training services to young people in detention.

In the children detention school system a range of rehabilitative supports is offered to every child as part of an overall programme, with the main emphasis placed on education and rehabilitation rather than on control and security. A strong ethos of school attendance, education and training is also in place. An individual management plan is put in place for each child which includes an assessment to determine the need for more specialist intervention from the Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service (ACTS). This is a national service provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that provides clinical services to children in detention and in special care, as well as short term interventions when the child returns to the community. There are also a number of other therapeutic and education programmes delivered on the Oberstown campus which are aimed at addressing offending behaviour patterns by children and ensuring their reintegration into society with all relevant supports that may be available in the community on a child's release put in place.

The Deputy may also wish to note that earlier community based interventions to divert young people from offending behaviour, such as the Garda Youth Diversions Projects and the Garda Diversion Programme are also in place in the community and come under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.