The children's minister has blamed the shortage of room in detention centres on a threefold increase in the number of young offenders.
Frances Fitzgerald's office came under fire from a judge who warned child criminals are being freed to reoffend because there are no beds available.
The minister said a Government decision to stop sending 16-year-olds to adult prisons, and a spike in judges remanding teenagers, has led to three times as many being detained in recent years.
Offender rise 'causing space issue'
The children's minister has blamed the shortage of room in detention centres on a threefold increase in the number of young offenders....