Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to echo the welcome extended to Professor Kilkelly. It is heartening to see someone with such a focus on children's rights as chair of Oberstown because this also is an opportunity for a new start in respect of policies, procedures and how matters are dealt with. It is an opportunity to draw from best practice and to draw up and perhaps be the leading lights in what is best practice when considering detention, which all are agreed is the last resort.

As legislators, members certainly are concerned about the overuse of remand and it would be really useful, were they to know what were the daily occupancy and capacity figures. For example, I now can look up the system to see how many 17-year-olds are in Wheatfield but I have no idea and cannot track the nature and type of charges for which children are being remanded and for which they are committed. It would be really useful for members to gain an understanding in this regard because they then would understand some of the issues with which they must deal. Professor Kilkelly herself raised an issue regarding potentially older children coming into Oberstown. They potentially are physically bigger, exhibit more challenging behaviour and the charges against them may be more serious. This could change the dynamic in respect of staff and of other younger residents and whether they are perceived to be buying into or complying with the system. How can members help in respect of those dynamics? I also have a concern about which there is no easy answer. The capacity for girls is six and the likelihood is one could have one girl there who effectively is in isolation. What is done to mitigate this scenario? I also have a concern regarding the visit by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, following which its report in November raised concerns about the excessive use of force and handcuffs, the use of lock-up due to insufficient staffing levels, insufficient access to natural light and austerity of the rooms, staff numbers and ratios, as well as the need to photograph, record and report. I would be interested to learn what has been done since, because the committee only made that report last November. While I obviously could raise many matters, the final issue I wish to raise is on the assessment, consultation and therapy service, ACTS, assessing each child. First, does each child get such an assessment? Second, when children get such an assessment, do they have access to services? I note Professor Kilkelly has raised the issue for members about psychiatry. This is a matter of huge concern for me and undoubtedly for other committee members. Are there other services of which members must be mindful in this regard?

As a final point, I assume the board is in the process of drawing up guidance and policy with regard to the potential for escalating behaviour or difficulties that may be encountered as Professor Kilkelly has outlined. Is there a role for the Oireachtas or the joint committee in respect of awareness? At present, members only hear about Oberstown when there is a problem such as when a young person has escaped but they do not hear about some of the challenges. Could they have an input into this process to ascertain how they could inform and educate themselves and support what is happening? As Deputy Kelleher has outlined, these are the exceptional cases and this is about where both society and so many people in a child's life have failed that child. Is Professor Kilkelly in the process of developing guidance to have such transparency and understanding of what is actually happening, rather than the perception of what may have happened in the past and how therefore that practice is being carried through? I wish Professor Kilkelly every success.