204.—(1) In this section “mobility trips” means authorised absences from a children detention school of children detained therein for the purpose of—

(a) assisting their reintegration into society by promoting their personal and social development, their awareness and appreciation in matters of culture, education and recreation, and

(b) where appropriate, the implementation of any necessary treatment or counselling directions.

(2) Each mobility trip shall be authorised by the Director of the children detention school concerned and shall be granted for a specified period.

(3) During a mobility trip the child shall be accompanied at all times by at least one member of the staff of the school.

(4) Before authorising any mobility trip, the Director shall be satisfied, on the basis of an assessment of the child’s suitability for such trips, that the purpose of the mobility trip is appropriate for the child.

(5) The Minister may suspend, for a specified period, mobility trips for a particular child or for any children detention school where he or she is satisfied that they would not be in the best interests of the child or school or of society generally during that period.

(6) Any period specified in subsection (5) may be renewed on as many occasions as the Minister considers necessary until the circumstances that gave rise to the suspension of the mobility trips no longer apply.

(7) Any breach by a child of the rules governing the grant of mobility trips shall render that child ineligible for such trips for such period as the Director may determine.

(8) Absconding while on a mobility trip shall be treated as a breach of discipline of the school.

(9) The Director of each children detention school shall keep the F184[Minister and] board of management of the school informed of the implementation of the F185[…] rules in relation to the grant of mobility trips.