Weather and 'construction issues' delay child detention facility
Weather conditions and other "construction issues" have resulted in delays in the development of the new National Children Detention Facility in north Dublin.
Three new units were due to be up and running by the end of next month but the Government says it is running behind schedule.
Last October, the then Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald helped turned the sod at the site in Oberstown.
The €56m project was heralded as a watershed moment in the way the State deals with young offenders.
Its purpose is to end the practice of detaining children in adult prison facilities.
Three residential units were due to be finished by the end of next month but the development has run into some minor difficulties.
As a result, they won't be ready until later this year.
Staffing issues have been rejected by the Government as a reason for the hold up.
A spokesperson for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs says the delays are entirely construction related with the weather also playing a part.
The department says the recruitment campaign for extra care staff is almost finished and new staff will be in place in plenty of time.
