Minister pledges to end detention of children at St Patrick's
The detention of 16- and 17-year-old boys in St Patrick's adult Institution in Dublin is to come to an end within two years, Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald said today.
Minister Fitzgerald stated that €50m of capital funding will go towards to the development of six new detention units for youth offenders.
The detention of children in St Patrick’s Institution has been criticised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
From May 1, all newly remanded or sentenced 16-year-olds will be detained in the children's detention facilities at Oberstown, in Dublin.
