Secure children's unit to close

[Posted: Thu 05/11/2009 by Joanne McCarthy]

The State’s main secure unit which houses highly disruptive young people is to be closed by the HSE, it has been reported.

The 24-bed special care detention unit at Ballydowd, Palmerstown, Co Dublin, cost €13 million to build in 2000 and has been used to detain up to 18 children and young people.

A number of practices in the unit were heavily criticised in a report, and the environment at the centre was deemed ‘no longer acceptable’ for the detention of children. The unit is said to be in disrepair in many areas and is generally unfit for purpose.

The HSE is to move residents to other residential centres.