§ Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What plans exist in Northern Ireland concerning the future of Lisnevin and other youth justice centres. [HL4901]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThere are two Juvenile Justice Centres in Northern Ireland. One is Lisnevin Juvenile Justice Centre in Millisle, Co Down, and the other is Rathgael Juvenile Justice Centre in Bangor, Co Down.
In November 2000, following public consultation, Adam Ingram, the then Northern Ireland Minister of State, made a commitment to Parliament to deliver a purpose designed Juvenile Justice Centre for Northern Ireland at Rathgael in Bangor. His statement went to say that while the new centre was being built, young people already in the system would be transferred to the Rathgael campus.
Since then a phased development programme has commenced. The first phase involves upgrading security and refurbishing the existing accommodation on the Rathgael site to facilitate the transfer of young people from Lisnevin. Phase 1 of the programme is scheduled for completion by late 2002. On completion, Lisnevin will close and Rathgael will function as the single Juvenile Justice Centre for Northern Ireland and will operate until the new purpose-designed centre is constructed and commissioned.
The second phase relates to provision of the new, purpose-designed centre, to be located on available land at Rathgael. When fully commissioned, the new centre will replace the phase 1 facility. Planning the Phase 2 project is at an early stage. Phase 2 is estimated to take about four years to complete.