Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the HR issues to which the Deputy referred, a recruitment process carried out in late 2013 has resulted in the appointment of a campus manager for the Oberstown campus. The manager reports to the board of management and is responsible for driving the reforms that are taking place at Oberstown. I advise further that a care staff recruitment programme to meet the needs of the increased capacity in children detention places at Oberstown campus is under way in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service. I am advised that the first interviews are due to take place very soon and it is intended to deploy the new staff to Oberstown for training and orientation on a staged basis in the third quarter of this year. Consequently, construction, staffing and management development, together with overall business planning encompassing all aspects, are well advanced. The Deputy may wish to know I intend to visit the Oberstown site and campus tomorrow. He made some specific reference to issues, including court action. While I do not wish to comment on those at this stage, I undertake to the House to meet all the interested parties on site tomorrow morning with a view towards ensuring this development proceeds at the earliest possible opportunity and is on target for later this year.

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