Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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60. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason there are still seven minors currently serving sentences in Wheatfield Prison in view of the Government's commitment to ending the practice of detaining children in adult prisons; when these children will be transferred to the Oberstown campus; her plans to expand her Department's role in youth justice issues by taking responsibility for young adult offenders aged 18 to 24 years, as recommended in a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15199/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am very pleased to say that in the coming days I will announce the date on which the Oberstown Children Detention Campus (Oberstown) will commence taking 17 year old males who receive a sentence to a period of detention. This is the final step to end the detention of children in adult prison facilities.

It is intended that Oberstown will take new cases referred directly from the courts initially. As at 24 March 2017 there are 7 male children in Wheatfield Place of Detention.

Statutory provision in relation to young offenders under the age of 18 years is set out in the Children Act 2001. The operation of the children detention school system under Part 10 of the Act is under the remit of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Irish Youth Justice Service, based in my Department and staffed by officials working on an interagency basis from the Department of Justice and Equality and my Department, oversee the operation of the Act, youth crime policy and all relevant projects and programmes.

The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice report, entitled "Developing Inside - Transforming prison for young adults", referenced by the Deputy makes a range of recommendations in relation to the operation of prison and custodial regimes for young adults in the age range of 18 - 24 years which have implications for the operation of the adult prison system and some of them have implications for the wider criminal justice system, which is under the remit of the Tanaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality.

While the Irish Youth Justice Service is based in my Department, I must inform the Deputy that my political priorities in this area are focussed on matters relating to the ending of the practice of detaining children in adult prison facilities. In this regard a key priority for me is ensuring that Oberstown is safe and secure for both children and staff. In pursuit of this, a number of reviews have been undertaken and a group has been established with representation from my Department to examine the recommendations from these reviews.

Another priority policy area for me is the Bail Supervision Scheme which commenced recently on a pilot basis and in respect of which there will be ongoing evaluation and review.