Ms Emily Logan:

Deputy Regina Doherty asked about symptoms. Perhaps I have already referred to some of them. There were questions on sick leave and people demonising children. Both tend to indicate an organisation or culture that is in need of assistance. This view stems from my experience of managing other institutions and my observations of what is going on in Oberstown. When people talk about extrinsic rewards, it usually means that there is something intrinsically wrong with how an organisation is being run.

The Chairman asked a reasonable question about exploring other avenues instead of detention. People have referred to the amount of referrals in percentage terms at 70%. That sounds like a large number but it is only seven teenage boys. It is a small number. Perhaps the Judiciary does not feel as bad about sending children to Oberstown because it is a care environment and not a prison. It is reasonable to consider this issue. The Judiciary needs to utilise our well-developed youth justice and youth diversion systems. I have met the juvenile liaison officers and can vouch that there are great people working in the community and in the Probation Service. The system is well developed in terms of community alternatives for teenagers and we should utilise them.