Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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33. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to report on the industrial relations situation in Oberstown youth detention centre. [14846/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As Minister with responsibility for children and young people, I am committed, first and foremost, to the provision of an appropriate, safe and secure environment for children in custody on the Oberstown campus. These children are cared for by staff who deserve to have a safe working environment.

In recent years it has been Government policy to end the practice of detaining children in adult prison facilities. This policy has found cross-party support. In moving towards this goal a series of developments have been put in place. These have included a substantial capital development to provide new and modern facilities at Oberstown and also a range of operational improvements including measures to integrate and standardise procedures on the Campus, legislative reform under the Children (Amendment) Act 2015 and the first programme of staff recruitment in over ten years. I acknowledge the contribution of the staff and managers in Oberstown on the progress that has been made in this area. They have played a key role in delivering this change.

I understand that the issues of staff safety and training supports are currently the subject of discussion between Oberstown management and staff representatives at the Workplace Relations Commission, following the industrial action which took place on Tuesday 31 May.

In Oberstown, there is an emphasis on training in behaviour management programmes that de-escalate and, where possible, avoid crises involving the behaviour of children . I condemn any and all incidents resulting in assault and injury to staff. There is no acceptable level of violent behaviour in a children detention school. I am advised that children are assessed daily for all forms of risk and in the light of such assessments the residential care plans for children are reviewed accordingly. The Oberstown Campus has in place a published bespoke behaviour management policy which has been developed in conjunction with the Crisis Prevention Institute of Wisconsin, USA who are internationally recognised for their expertise in this area. Oberstown staff are provided with formal training in the policy with the object of providing staff with the skills to manage the behaviour of children. Policies and procedures are continually reviewed with the aim of ensuring safe and secure custody for children and the safety of staff.

Unfortunately, the risk of injury cannot be excluded completely given the nature of a children detention school. A specific employee assistance programme is in place to assist members of staff on foot of any such incident where required. Staff are fully supported where incidents have to be investigated by the Garda authorities.

I welcome the fact that the engagement between Oberstown management and staff is now taking place at the Workplace Relations Commission and understand that industrual action has been suspended during this process. I intend to continue to monitor the progress of these discussions, in conjunction with the Oberstown board of management.