Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In line with the programme for Government commitment, I am working with Government colleagues to end the detention of children in St. Patrick's Institution. To achieve this objective, my Department has provided €50 million for the development of national child detention facilities at Oberstown.

Following extensive work involving my Department and the Office of Public Works since early 2012, the design process is now complete, planning permission has been secured and the tendering process has been completed. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and his Department for the work they have done in this area. BAM Building Limited has been appointed as the main contractor for the project, as well as several sub-contractors. I am happy to report to the House that construction is to commence on-site next week. The timescale for completion of the first three detention units, which will provide a total additional capacity of 30 spaces, will be third quarter of 2014. The remaining three detention units, required to replace existing buildings on the site, will be delivered in 2015. My officials will continue to work with the OPW to ensure the successful delivery of this project.

In addition to the capital project, my Department is overseeing a further programme of reforms aimed at enhancing the effective management and capacity of services on the Oberstown campus. A recruitment process has recently been carried out for the appointment of a campus manager for the Oberstown site, who will report to the board of management. A candidate is under consideration by the Public Appointments Service and I expect this position will be filled in the near future. I see this appointment as a crucial element of the reform of the child detention service.

I will shortly be presenting to the Oireachtas a set of amendments to the Children Act 2001 which will provide a mechanism for the merging of the three existing child detention schools into a single legal entity. These governance reforms will complement the ongoing work over recent years to develop integrated care policies and share services across the Oberstown campus.

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I wish to further advise that a care staff recruitment programme has been sanctioned by Government and will shortly be commenced in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service, with the aim of deploying the new staff in Oberstown for orientation and training on a staged basis from early 2014.

In addition, a business review process is to be carried out on the Oberstown campus to ensure that all services for young people up to the age of 18 can be delivered in a manner that ensures safe and secure custody. My officials will also shortly be meeting with the Irish Prison Service to establish a Steering Group charged with overseeing the transition of responsibility for 17-year-old males from the prison system to the Oberstown campus over the coming months.

In line with an agreement made at the Labour Relations Commission earlier this year, agreement has been reached with staff representatives on the appointment of a third-party arbitrator to oversee a joint staff-management review of the operation of the campus staffing roster in Oberstown which was implemented in February 2013. I intend to see that this review commences this month and is completed as soon as possible.

The design process which was carried out in consultation with staff for the Oberstown development has fully taken into account the need for safe and robust buildings capable of accommodating children presenting with challenging behaviour. The use of individual buildings will be considered as part of the business review programme referred to above for the Oberstown site. I would note, however, that staff training, professional supervision and individual care plans for each child in detention are at least as important as physical facilities and both aspects will be considered as part of the planning for the new child detention service.

In conclusion, a major programme of change and reform to the child detention service is currently under way, and my Department will continue to work the board of management, staff representatives and other agencies to expand the range and quality of services on the Oberstown campus.

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