Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

564. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if he has plans to increase the number of places which allow for the incarceration of individuals under the age of 17 years who have been convicted of a crime.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36301/25]

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

Oberstown Children Detention Campus 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 certificate is currently set at 46 (40 boys and 6 girls). Places can be used to accommodate both children on detention orders and children on remand orders.

In order for the principle of detention as a last resort for children to be applied effectively throughout the youth justice system, it is essential that sufficient appropriate community sanctions are available to the courts when dealing with offending by children. Policy in respect of community sanctions for children is the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and I have recently engaged with Minister O’Callaghan and emphasised the need for services such as the Bail Supervision Scheme to operate as genuine alternatives to detention and for these options to be available to the courts.

Notwithstanding the importance of community sanctions, it is also necessary for the effective operation of our youth justice system that detention remains an option where required.

I am aware that a large number of boys have been placed in Oberstown by the Courts in recent months. I continue to consider the matter in detail. I believe it may be necessary to provide for a small increase in the near future in the maximum number of boys that may be detained at Oberstown. The Director has been asked to consider what preparations may need to be made on the Oberstown Campus for that.

With respect to longer-term planning, the Department is conducting a research based assessment of future demand for Oberstown services, in line with a commitment contained in the Youth Justice Strategy. The outcome of this, which will be available over the coming months, will inform the direction of policy on the future capacity of the Campus in line with the overall aims of the Youth Justice Strategy.