Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This has been an issue of concern for all of us in the House going back some considerable period of time. I addressed it with the Minister's predecessor on a number of occasions and with the Ombudsman for Children when she attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children. There were also statements in the Seanad on this matter. There is universal support for the project under way.

I understand building work on the new units is making good progress and there have been changes at organisation and personnel level. That said, there are reports - I would like the Minister to clarify these if he is in a position to do so - of a number of HR issues. The Minister indicated weather and other issues arose. It is the other issues I would like to explore. Are there HR issues still outstanding? I am not in a position to confirm but there are reports of an injunction against the Irish Youth Justice Service by the director of Trinity House.

Will the Minister please advise on the factual position in respect of same and discount it if this is not the case? Is it the case that because of this and other human resources issues, including the postponement of the recruitment of new staff, the scheduled opening of the new units in September 2013 is in some question?

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