Construction begins on child detention facility

Construction is officially underway on a new child detention facility in Oberstown in Co Dublin, which will end the practice of housing young offenders in adult prisons.

The project will cost over €56m euro and will be completed in 2015.

Three units will open next year, and will accommodate offenders from St Patrick's Institution, which has been ordered to close.

The Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald says Ireland has been severely criticised for housing child and adult offenders together.

"[The new facility] will mean that no longer will 16- or 17-year-olds be in an adult prison. That is the first time that has happened in this country," she said.

"It's been called for for decades. We've been criticised by national and international bodies - this is major reform in looking after young people … who get into trouble with the law."