59.—(1) Where the member in charge of a Garda Síochána station has reasonable cause to believe that a child who is in custody in the station on suspicion of having committed an offence may be in need of care or protection, the member shall, as soon as practicable, inform or cause to be informed F70[the F71[Child and Family Agency] accordingly, and it shall] send a representative to the station as soon as practicable.

(2) Where it is not practicable for the representative of the F70[F71[Child and Family Agency]] to attend at the station within a reasonable time, he or she shall at the first available opportunity attend at the station to ascertain why the member in charge had reasonable cause to believe that the child may be in need of care or protection.

(3) The F70[F71[Child and Family Agency]] shall, where appropriate, exercise its powers under the Act of 1991 in relation to the child.

F72[(4) The Minister, with the agreement of the Minister for Health and Children, may issue guidelines in relation to the practical operation of this section.]