Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
The Government is committed to ending the practice of sending 16 and 17 year old boys to
St Patrick’s institution. It is a priority of mine to ensure that this practice ends as soon as
possible. I visited St Patrick’s Institution twice in November last year, prior to assuming legal
responsibility for the children detention schools from the Minister for Justice and Equality in
January 2012. I received a briefing from the Governor and his staff on the efforts that are made
on a daily basis to provide appropriate, safe and secure care for 16 and 17 males. I also visited
each of the children detention schools on the Oberstown campus during 2011.
The Government appreciates that, as far as possible, the 16 and 17 year old age group is
accommodated and cared for differently from the other offenders held in St. Patrick’s Institution,
in line with best practice and child protection guidance procedures. Nevertheless, it is
unacceptable that children continue to be detained with adult prisoners and the Government
is committed to ending this practice.
I am pursuing both interim and medium term arrangements to address this matter. In the
context of my taking over responsibility for the children detention schools last month I tasked
a group, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, to identify interim measures
which could reduce the number of 16 and 17 year old boys detained in St. Patrick’s Institution.
The group comprises officials from the Irish Youth Justice Service, the Irish Prison Service and
the Probation Service. I understand that the group has made considerable progress. I expect
to have a report on the matter shortly and will examine the position in conjunction with the
Minister for Justice and Equality.
I have also asked that the Irish Youth Justice Service reassess the projected cost of the
proposed National Children Detention Facility on the Oberstown campus, North County
Dublin to bring it into line with current price levels and current economic realities. This process
is ongoing and the Irish Youth Justice Service has been tasked with progressing to completion
during 2012 the design work and tender documentation for the NCDF project in Oberstown. I
am also in ongoing consultations with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the
funding of the Oberstown project. The House can be assured that I will continue to make the
case at Government level on the priority that should be given to this project.
Constitutional Amendments
74. Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the structures
she is putting in place to consult opposition parties on the children’s referendum; and if she
will make a statement on the matter. [8115/12]
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Programme for
Government 2011 states that the Referendum on Children’s Rights is a priority, and that the
wording of the proposed referendum will be along the lines of that proposed by the All Party
Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children (JCCAC). From the outset of
deliberations in relation to the constitutional amendment on children’s rights the need for all
party consensus on this topic was highlighted. As a member of the JCCAC I can attest to the
level of all party co-operation afforded the then Government in the work of the Committee.
Since taking office, both myself and officials of the Department of Children and Youth
Affairs have had a very considerable number of meetings and communications with the
Attorney General and her officials to progress this commitment. A draft wording is being
prepared by the Office of the Attorney General in co-operation with the Department of Children
and Youth Affairs, and there is on-going contact and meetings between officials of the
Department and of the AG’s office focusing on ensuring that the proposed Referendum reflects
the deliberations and conclusions of the Joint Committee and the commitment in the Programme
for Government.
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