Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the contributors for attending and for all the work they do on the ground. Dealing with all these issues is a very hands-on job. Turning first to the IPRT, I was struck by the data on the Oberstown detention centre campus, where the trust has identified that of the children's experiences in the centre, 31% had experienced a loss of parent, 41% had experienced issues of mental health, 71% had experienced substance misuse, while 57% had a lack of engagement with education. The interconnectedness of all that is probably the big issue that goes to the core of much of this. If we were to examine that, we would probably find that many of the reasons people end up misusing drugs and so on relate to chaotic and difficult life circumstances they are in, poverty of ambition and a sense of hopelessness regarding their circumstances and the community in which they live. All those issues are very much interconnected.

I might direct my next question at our guests from Core Youth Services, given its emphasis on substance misuse. What connection is there in that regard? Having spoken to people at the coalface, I know an awful lot of problems result from people who have addiction problems, and there may be mental health problems as well. They often end up inappropriately in the justice system, including in prison. That is not a good outcome and it compounds their problems. How can that be resolved and how can we change that?

The Probation Service does great work and I commend it on that. How many probation officers are there in the country? How under-resourced and understaffed is the service? In my experience, the issue is significant.