Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to make a point on the Oberstown centre. I am delighted to hear the Secretary General is due to meet senior management there. To clarify, I agree totally with the amalgamation of service because I do not want to see duplication. I also want to make a point on the staffing issue which is backed up by the fact that the Minister is in the fourth round of advertisements for personnel to work in the centre. There are complex issues, but the anecdotal evidence from staff is that they feel vulnerable and do not feel safe, which will lead into the fear of potential applicants. I encourage greater consultation with the staff to iron out the issues of training and staff rostering. I am aware of a unit with 15 staff in which at one time only four permanent staff were present. The others were absent on stress, assault and sick leave. There were only four permanent members of staff and the others were agency and other staff, which is not right.