Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone T.D., today briefed the Cabinet on details of a number of reviews commissioned regarding improving services for young people and staff at Oberstown Children Detention Campus (Oberstown)
Minister Zappone met with young people, staff and management in Oberstown over the past few months to understand first hand the issues that were causing concern. She was briefed by management on operations, security and behaviour management programmes at the Campus.
Commenting on the review reports Minister Zappone said “This Government and my Department in particular will continue to support and monitor the changes which need to take place. I fully expect that implementation of key recommendations of the reviews will generate further improvement.
Many of the recommendations have already been implemented in keeping with the approach advocated by the Board of Oberstown and national policy. We are already seeing improvements;
• Following two Health and Safety Reviews and a Review of Security measures to support staff there has been a welcome reduction in the number and level of incidents occurring in Oberstown.
• The number of young people being detained in Oberstown has dropped over the past 12 months. Up to Quarter 3 2016, the Campus was consistently operating close to full occupancy (48 males). As of 15 May 2017, there were 29 children in Oberstown, 22 serving a period of detention and 7 remanded in custody.
• This downward trend is as a result of the Garda Diversion Programme, the use of alternative sanctions under the Children Act 2001, improved release planning supports and increased legislative awareness that detention of a child should be imposed only as a measure of last resort.
• In addition, the recent introduction of a pilot Bail Supervision Scheme in the Dublin area has seen up to 11 children supported by this scheme instead of being in custody on remand.
• Levels of absenteeism have almost halved reducing from 17.1% in May 2016 to 9.2% in May 2017.
• Issues regarding health and safety of staff on campus were addressed through IR processes and continue to get attention through the Health and Safety Review.
There has been tremendous support, cooperation and commitment from staff and management to take measures which make Oberstown a better place for young people and staff. However, our work is far from over. This is a work in progress. We will continue our efforts to ensure the implementation of the recommendations, as appropriate, in each of the reviews.
Professor Ursula Kilkelly, Chairperson of the Oberstown Board of Management is Chairperson of the Review Implementation Group established in March this year. The Group has met once a month and are currently on schedule to complete their work by December 2017.