Mr. Pat Bergin:

I thank the Chairman. Oberstown children's detention campus is the national detention facility for the care of young people referred to us by the courts on remand or detention orders. We provide a safe and secure environment for young people, help them address offending behaviour, and prepare for a positive return to their families and communities. The campus is a modern facility with new buildings and services and our programmes are based on best practice in the care of young people who offend.

Young people who come to Oberstown have generally experienced significant adversity and disadvantage in their lives. They are usually between 15 and 17 years of age, male, and have had many significant associations with the care system. They have struggled with poor experiences in education, many suffer from mental health problems and addiction, and have often experienced trauma or loss. Our young people have been through many of the state services and supports, often unsuccessfully, and present with challenging behaviour and complex unmet needs. Our job in providing them with care, education and protection is challenged by these factors, but at Oberstown it is our mission to ensure that young people detained at the campus are supported to move away from offending behaviour to make a more positive contribution to society. We do this having regard to our values of respect; learning and reflection; working together; honesty and integrity; and commitment to quality care and support.

I am pleased to be here today to report on progress at the Oberstown campus since my last appearance before this committee in October 2016. My role as director is to manage Oberstown children's detention campus to ensure we provide the highest standards of care for young people in a safe environment for staff, fulfilling the requirements of the Children Act 2001. I work under the guidance of a board of management, the chairperson of which, Professor Ursula Kilkelly, is also in attendance today, and the Irish Youth Justice Service in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Although licensed to accommodate 54 young people, Oberstown currently has a daily population of approximately 40 young people, with a third of these young people on remand orders.

We now accommodate young people on detention orders separately from those on remand, which has proven to be a very positive development in providing a safe environment for staff and young people. Those young people who serve longer sentences also enjoy a care regime that is in line with their needs and circumstances.

Last March, Ireland reached a milestone in ending the placement of young people in adult prisons when the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, and the Minister for Justice and Equality commenced the relevant legislation. Oberstown played a significant role in achieving this objective by creating the conditions to-----