Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1836. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans in place to reduce overcrowding in young offender detention facilities such as Oberstown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19295/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Oberstown Children Detention Campus (Oberstown) is the State’s sole detention centre for children. The maximum occupancy in Oberstown is set by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality by way of a certificate made under the Children Act 2001. This is currently set at 46 (40 boys and 6 girls). This includes children on detention orders and also children who have been remanded by the courts. Because Oberstown cannot lawfully accommodate more children than the maximum number certified by the Minister at any time, overcrowding does not occur in Oberstown.

Under the Children Act 2001 and in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, detention of children is to be used as a measure of last resort and for the shortest time possible.

Section 144 of the Children Act states that the court shall not make an order imposing a period of detention on a child unless it is satisfied that detention is the only suitable way of dealing with the child and that a place in a children detention school is available for him or her.

Oberstown operates a robust bed management system which is well established and understood by all agencies of the state involved in youth justice. A detention order can only be made by a court once the court has established that a bed is available.

Where a place is not available, the court has the option to defer sentencing until such time as a place is available.

The Youth Justice Strategy 2021 to 2027 includes the following commitment:

We will implement a research-based assessment of likely demands for Detention places and services and the consequent resource requirements over a 5-year period to inform future strategic options as well as ongoing planning, budgeting and service development.

DCEDIY has commenced work on this project. This research-based assessment will help to inform any decision on the future capacity of the Oberstown Children Detention Campus.