Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am anxious to see an early resolution to all the issues in the Oberstown centre. The safety and well-being of young people and staff is my primary concern.

I have taken an active involvement in understanding the challenges that are facing Oberstown and in trying to identify the best way forward. I have visited the campus on a number of occasions since my appointment. In June of this year the emphasis of my visit was on the education facility where I had the opportunity of meeting the young people and their teachers.

In October 2016, I visited Oberstown to meet Professor Barry Goldson and Professor Nicholas Hardwick as part of their work in their independent review of operations and best practice on the campus. Most recently, on 21 November 2016, I visited Oberstown and met the young people, staff and management of the campus as well as the chairperson of the board of management. I made a number of suggestions to the director about activities for young people and other matters. Following my invitation, Deputy O’Sullivan and the other members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs visited Oberstown on 9 November 2016.

I have also met the local residents from Oberstown accompanied by local representatives. From these meetings a community safety plan has been developed.

A range of reviews are under way in Oberstown, including an independent review of operations, an independent expert review of security, of health and safety, and of the behaviour management programme currently in use. Oberstown is also looking at all policies, including care, safeguarding and professional standards on the campus.

Given the many initiatives now under way, which are known to all parties in the context of the process in the Workplace Relations Commission, I am very disappointed that there is still a danger of further industrial action in early January. I have asked my Department and Oberstown management to engage with the unions and the Workplace Relations Commission to resolve matters.

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