Children Detention Schools

Prior to 1 March 2007 the Department of Education and Science had responsibility for the following children detention schools:

• St. Joseph's Special School, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary ;
• Trinity House School, Lusk, Co. Dublin;
• Oberstown Boys Centre, Lusk, Co. Dublin;
• Oberstown Girls Centre, Lusk, Co. Dublin;
• Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre, Finglas West, Dublin 11.

On 1 March 2007 administrative and legal responsibility for the children detention schools in Finglas and Lusk transferred from the Department of Education and Science to the Irish Youth Justice Service, an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Also on 1 March 2007, the children detention school in Clonmel became premises provided and maintained by the HSE under the Child Care Act, 1991.

The changes arose from the youth justice reforms approved by Government in December 2005 following a review carried out by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The Department of Education and Science retains responsibility for the provision of education services in the schools. Day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of education services has been assigned in each case to the local vocational education committee.

Prior to the transfer of responsibility, the Department of Education and Science commissioned regular care inspection reports of the schools. A review of Finglas Children and Adolescent Centre was also undertaken in 2004:

• Oberstown Girls School Oberstown, Lusk, Co. Dublin
  Care Inspection Report - November, 2006 (File Format Word 350KB)
  
• St. Joseph's Special School, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
  Care Inspection Report - May, 2006 (File Format Word 550KB)
  
• Trinity House School, Lusk, Co. Dublin.
  Care Inspection Report - January, 2006 (File Format Word 500KB)
  
• Oberstown Boys Centre, Lusk, Co. Dublin.
  Care Inspection Report - October, 2005 (File Format Word 450KB)
  
• Oberstown Girls Centre, Lusk, Co. Dublin.
  Care Inspection Report - Published December, 2004 (File Format Word, 300KB)
  
• Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre, Finglas West, Dublin 11.
  Care Inspection Report - October 2006 (File Format Word 330KB)
  Care Inspection Report - February, 2006 (File Format Word 500KB)
  A Review of Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre by Michael Donnellan - 29 April, 2004 (File Format Word 51KB)
  
• St. Joseph's Special School, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
  Care Inspection Report - Published April, 2004 (File Format Word 325KB)

The schools operated in accordance with the Criteria and Standards for Children Detention Schools, and adhered to certain procedures and guidelines in relation to Child Protection and Welfare Procedures and Guidelines for Detention Schools 2002.