Written answers

Tuesday, 15 November 2022

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Detention Centres

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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429. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total bed placement capacity in the Oberstown centre; the average occupancy level in the centre in the years 2020 and 2021; the costs of this provision in 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56179/22]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Oberstown Children's Detention Campus is the sole detention facility for the remand or committal of children following a court order. Under Section 195 of the Children Act 2001 the Minister is required to certify the maximum number of children who may be detained in Oberstown and under Section 196 the sex and ages of the children that may be detained.

In November 2017, that Certificate set the number of beds at 54 - 48 boys and 6 girls. The Certificate was revised on 10th March 2021 to provide for 38 beds - 37 boys and 1 girl - given the impact of Covid-19 on the operation of Oberstown.

In May 2021 following consultation with the Oberstown authorities the Certificate was amended to increase the ceiling to 46 beds, comprising of 40 boys and 6 girls. This means that Oberstown will be in a position to operate five 8 bedded Units for boys and one 6 bedded Unit for girls. The revised ceiling of 46 reflects the maximum capacity available in Oberstown following the closure of the dated Units in Trinity House School which were deemed to be below standard relative to the newer units. This Certificate remains in place.

In 2020 there were 122 individual young people detained on the Campus with an average daily population of 36. In 2021 there were 102 individual young people detained on the Campus with an average daily population of 31.

The Revised Estimates Volumes for the Public Service provided the following allocations for the operation of the Campus (in '000s).

2020 - €23,816

2021 - €24,503

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