Planning Notice Published for National Children Detention School Facilities

Please click here to read the  Planning Notice for the National Children Detention School Facilities 

 

Planning Notice Published for National Children Detention

School Facilities at Oberstown, Co. Dublin

 

Background Note

21 May 2010 

• The planning notice for the development of the National Children Detention Facilities has been published in the national media and on www.iyjs.ie, the Irish Youth Justice Service website.  Information is available to view at the Garda Station in Balbriggan and the OPW offices in Trim, Co. Meath.

• In March 2008, Government approval was given for the development of new National Children Detention Facilities on the existing site at Oberstown, Lusk, Co. Dublin.  The project will result in 167 secure accommodation places for all children aged under 18 years of age ordered to be detained by the Courts in relation to criminal matters. 

• The Government decision was based on recommendations made by an interdepartmental Expert Group on Children Detention Schools (www.iyjs.ie).

• The project is the responsibility of the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) and the Office of Public Works (OPW) has been appointed to deliver the design for the new facilities and to manage the procurement of the construction phase of the project.

• Currently the site at Oberstown is the location of 3 children detention schools.  Oberstown Boys School and Trinity House School, provide places for boys who are aged under 16 years of age at the time of being detained.  Oberstown Girls School provides detention places for all girls under 18 years of age.  A fourth Children Detention School, Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre, closed on 31st March 2010 and its services were  transferred to the Oberstown Campus.

• It is proposed to develop the project over two phases. The first phase will provide 80 places and will prioritise the transfer of responsibility for detaining 16 and 17 year old boys from St. Patrick's Institution which operates under the aegis of  Irish Prison Service. This phase should be completed in mid-2013 subject to any requirements the planning authorities may have. The latter phase, which will provide a further 60 places, is scheduled for completion in early 2015. The balance of the proposed 167 places will be met using existing facilities.

• Services on in the new facilities will be provided on an integrated basis. Development on the site will include the provision of small individual residential units, educational and training facilities, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, centralised administration, catering, laundry, maintenance facilities and other ancillary facilities.  Security on the site will be enhanced by a secure boundary comprising layers of security including high level fencing.

• On completion, the development will result in all detention services for children being delivered in a single location to maximise the scope for shared services, operational efficiency and ensuring best practice standards.