Written answers
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Juvenile Offenders
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1140. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the issues caused by a lack of beds available in youth detention centres (details supplied); the future plans for funds to be allocated to youth detention centres; and the supports his Department will introduce to ensure community safety. [46357/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The maximum number of children that can be detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus at any time is set by the Minister by way of a Certificate issued under sections 195 and 196 of the Children Act 2001.
In accordance with section 195 of the Children Act 2001, the maximum number of children who may be detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus shall be 46 to include a maximum of 40 boys and 6 girls.
Under Section 96 of the Children Act 2001 detention of children is to be used as a last resort. The number of children in detention in Ireland has reduced significantly in recent decades. This is in part facilitated by the existence of a range of alternatives to detention such as the Bail Supervision Scheme and the Youth Diversion Programme.
The Youth Justice Strategy 2021 - 2027 includes a commitment to carry out a research based assessment of likely demand for detention places and services and the consequent resource requirements to inform future strategic options as well as ongoing planning, budgeting and service development. Work on this matter is ongoing.
Oberstown Children Detention Campus has been allocated €31.048m in the Budget for 2025.
Issues related to community safety are a matter for the Department of Justice.
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