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

I understand the Deputy's question relates to the report on the operational review that was commissioned by the Oberstown board of management. It is one of a series of reports commissioned by Oberstown with the aim of improving services and ensuring good practice for the children and young people.

Four independent reviews have been commissioned by the Oberstown board of management, including the operational review and reviews of security, behaviour management and health and safety. The security and health and safety reviews have issued reports to the Oberstown board of management, while the behaviour management review is expected to report in the near future.

The operational review was a snapshot study undertaken within a particularly short timeframe and designed to help the campus to constructively move forward. I want to ensure that the report's recommendations are implemented as appropriate as soon as possible. The chair of the board has indicated to me that many of the recommendations have already been implemented, that they mirror recommendations from the other reports and are very much in keeping with the approach advocated by the board of Oberstown, national policy and my own views. An action plan adopted in January 2017 continues to drive improvements on the Oberstown campus.

In considering the operational review report, it is important to guard against any potential legal risks and unintended consequences of publication. The board commissioned independent legal advice which it is currently considering. A decision on publication will be made as soon as possible.

To ensure full consideration of recommendations made in all of the reviews I have established an implementation group chaired by Professor Kilkelly with representation from Oberstown staff and management, my Department, the IMPACT trade union and a child development expert. The group is tasked with analysing the recommendations of each of the reviews with a view to their implementation while taking account of resource and policy implications. The implementation group regularly reports on progress to the board of management and to my Department.

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