(No. B/888) Ms A. Savabaddy (First Member for Port Louis North & Montagne Longue) asked the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare whether, in regard to the issue of the transfer of the Rehabilitation Youth Centre from under the responsibility of the Prime Minister's Office to her Ministry, she will state whether the committee set up to look thereinto has recommended same and, if so, indicate the expected implementation date thereof and whether amendments to the Children’s Act 2020 or to any other relevant legislation are being contemplated to facilitate same and, if not, why not. The Deputy Prime Minister: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. I wish to inform the House that in a correspondence dated 01 September 2025, my Ministry was notified by the Prime Minister's Office that approval had been obtained for – (a) the conversion of two buildings used as Rehabilitation Youth Centres (RYCs), into dedicated specialised institutions for Children with Serious Behavioural Concerns (CSBC), and (b) that the centres would be managed by my Ministry and the secondment of 39 of the RYCs officers for a mutually agreed period. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, on 04 September 2025, a meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office with officers of my Ministry to discuss the implementation thereof, following which, a site visit was effected at the RYC premises on 25 September 2025 by senior officers of the PMO, of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and my Ministry. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, on 26 January 2026, a draft MOU was submitted by the Prime Minister's Office outlining the modus operandi on the administrative arrangements and operational management of revamped rehabilitation youth centres. These require extensive discussions and consultations between the stakeholders. I wish to inform the House that the challenge of dealing with CSBC requires a strategic approach and therefore, a committee co- chaired by the Attorney General and myself was set up. Therefore, the draft MOU has been kept in abeyance pending the recommendation of the committee. The committee comprises the Chief Government Whip, the hon. Ms Stephanie Anquetil, the hon. Dr. Ms Babita Thannoo, Member of the National Assembly, representatives of the Office of the DPP, the Probation Office, the Police, as well as officers of my Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office and that of the Attorney General's Office. This committee was established in order to come up with concrete solutions in addressing the existing gaps concerning CSBC and those in conflict with the law. A first meeting was held on 04 February 2026 at which the stakeholders present were requested to submit proposals aimed at addressing loopholes in the current legislation framework, policies and infrastructural arrangements. On 10 March 2026, a second meeting was held to take stock of the proposals received. Given the complexity of the issues, the committee considered it more appropriate to establish two distinct subcommittees; one dealing with matters involving children with serious behavioural concerns and the second one regarding children in conflict with the law in order to undertake an in-depth analysis of the submissions made by all stakeholders concerned. A third meeting of the main committee was held on 29 April 2026 to which, the hon. Minister of Education and Human Resource and the Ombudsperson for Children, were also invited. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, during that meeting, it was agreed that there was need for an infrastructural facility, specifically designed to cater for children with serious behavioural concerns, separate from children who are in conflict with the law. Thus, consideration would be given to the requisite RYC infrastructure and trained staff being dedicated to an institution which would centralise service delivery for children with serious behavioural concern. A fourth meeting of the committee was held on 21 May 2026. Following discussions, it was agreed that the new institution would be operated by a parastatal body which would be under the aegis of my Ministry. The new institution would be situated within the premises of the RYC which will be upgraded in order to meet the standards of an institution for care and protection of children while taking into consideration the requirements of CSBC. The new multidisciplinary body which would be staffed among others by the professionals formerly working in the RYC would address the education and psychological needs of CSBC. It was therefore proposed that an interim report be drawn and Government be apprised of the work conducted by the committee and seek approval for its implementation as soon as possible. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to an expected implementation date, a definite time frame cannot be given at this stage. However, the House should rest assured that this matter has the attention of this Government. The Deputy Speaker: Yes, hon. Member?