Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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577. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she retains full confidence in the chairperson and members of the board of Oberstown Children Detention Campus in view of the refusal of the chairperson and the board to publish a report (details supplied); and the correspondence she has received from the chairperson which alluded to a threat of resignations if the report was published. [47873/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I have full confidence in the chairperson and members of the Board of Management Oberstown Children Detention Campus in their management of the Oberstown Campus. Over the past 2 years there is evidence of positive change in the day to day operations in Oberstown. I have met with young people in Oberstown on a number of occasions in recent months, who were anxious that the many positives about Oberstown be highlighted. Furthermore, the most recent HIQA report also found that improvements were evident. I believe that these improvements have been brought about by the strong leadership of the Chairperson and the Board.

The Report referred to by the Deputy, relates to a Review that was commissioned by Oberstown Board of Management following a particularly difficult time in Oberstown in 2016. There had been serious incidents involving young people which threatened the safety of the centre.  

It is imperative that a report of this kind should observe due process and fair procedures, so that all persons referred to are treated appropriately. The Board of Oberstown and I have taken legal advice on the question of publication.  

Following careful examination, the Board was not in a position to satisfy itself, or myself, that fair procedures had been applied before the report was finalised and submitted. In light of this and the legal advice received, I, following careful consideration of the matter, concluded that it is not appropriate to publish the full report.  

In addition to this Review, the Board commissioned a number of other reports at the same time, with a view to engaging external expertise to support the development of the Campus. These reviews included security, health and safety and behaviour management.  The Review Implementation Group, which I appointed, began work to oversee all the various recommendations in March 2017. The Group’s final report in December 2017 produced a coherent plan to implement all the recommendations. An updated Action Plan was completed in May 2018 and was published on my Department’s website.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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578. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of an operational review of Oberstown Children Detention Campus by a company (details supplied). [47874/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus that the cost of the report referred to by the Deputy was €15,366.60.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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579. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of the legal advice sought and received by the board of Oberstown Children Detention Campus in relation to the publication of and matters arising from a report (details supplied). [47875/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus that the cost of the legal advice sought and received by the Board, in relation to the publication of and matters arising from the report referred to by the Deputy was €26,025.57.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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580. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the individual fees and expenses paid to the chairperson and members of the board of Oberstown Children Detention Campus for each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018. [47877/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus that three board members received no payments in respect of fees and expenses. Details of payments to the Chairperson and other board members for 2016 and 2017 are as set out in the following table. No fees have been paid to date in 2018.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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581. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has received the 2016 and 2017 annual accounts for Oberstown Children Detention Campus in accordance with section 173 of the Children's Act 2001; and if so, her plans to publish same. [47878/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The accounts for January to May 2016 were included in the Annual Report and Accounts for 2012-2016, following the amalgamation of the three children detention schools to form the Oberstown Children Detention Campus. They were laid before the Oireachtas on July 24, 2017,

The accounts, for the period from June 2016 to December 2016, that were audited by the C&AG  were sent into my Department in April 2018. However due to an administrative oversight, they were not been laid before the Houses. I will arrange for them to be laid before the Houses as a matter of urgency.

The annual accounts for 2017 are currently in the process of finalisation and will be laid before the Oireachtas as soon as they are available.