The Health Service Executive is to close the State's main secure unit housing highly disruptive children.
The Special Care Unit in Ballydowd, west Dublin, cost €13 million to build nine years ago and has been used to detain up to 18 children and young people.
An independent report has strongly criticised many practices in the unit and has described the physical environment as no longer acceptable for the detention of children.
The HSE says it is planning to transfer services to other facilities with the minimum of disruption because the building and facilities there are no longer suitable.
Hugh Kane, Assistant HSE National Director said that as interim measure services will be transferred to a different facility.
He said that the facility is a facility that the HSE currently uses in north Co Dublin.
Jennifer Gargan, Irish Association of Young People in Care, said that she has been reliably informed that the unit concerned is Crannog Nua in the grounds of St Ida’s Hospital, Portran.
She said that there is no room in the Crannog Nua centre.
She also has said that the children who are currently in that centre must not be dislodged to make room for Ballydowd residents.
The Health Information and Quality Authority had also called for a move.
It is critical of recently-built apartments because they overlook the unit and impact on the children's privacy.
It says the unit is in disrepair in many areas and is generally not fit for purpose.
HIQA'S report was triggered by concerns about care practices that were brought to its attention last May.
It recommends that complaints concerning senior managers are dealt with by an independent child care manager.
12 days ago, one wing of the unit was damaged when a resident set fire to a mattress causing a partial evacuation.
Responding to the development, Minister for Children Barry Andrews said: 'The provision of special care is a challenging responsibility.
'Our understanding and approaches to special care are constantly evolving.
'Future decisions in respect of special care must be informed by the latest expert opinion and must respond to changing needs of the children who require access to special care.'
