Written answers
Monday, 9 September 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Juvenile Offenders
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1308.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons admitted to the juvenile detention centre in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form.[33802/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Information requested for 2014 and 2015 is not centrally available.
| Request | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of individual young persons admitted to Oberstown 01.04.16 – 21.08.24 | N/A | N/A | 159 | 133 | 132 | 127 | 122 | 73 | 82 | 95 | 68 |
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1309.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capacity of the juvenile detention centre.[33803/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The maximum number of children that can be detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus at any time is set by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth by way of a Certificate issued under sections 195 and 196 of the Children Act 2001. The current certificate allows for 46 children - 40 boys and 6 girls.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1310.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of inmates in the juvenile detention centre who have reported being physically or sexually assaulted, while in juvenile detention, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form.[33804/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables.
| Year | No. of Physical Assaults Reported | Outcome | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5 | 3 - unfounded 2 - unconfirmed | 5 - physical interventions/restraint by staff |
| 2015 | 12 | 2 - unfounded 2 - unconfirmed 8 - upheld | 11- physical interventions/restraint by staff 1 - peer on peer (Of these 1 reported to TUSLA) |
| 2016 | 10 | 3 - unfounded 3 - unconfirmed 4 - upheld | 9- physical interventions/restraint by staff 1 - peer on peer (Of these 2 reported to TUSLA) |
| 2017 | 7 | 4 - unfounded 3 - upheld | 7 - physical interventions/restraint by staff (Of these 2 reported to TUSLA) |
| 2018 | 9 | 5 - unfounded 2 - upheld 2 -unconfirmed | 9 - physical interventions/restraint by staff The two that were upheld were minor and did not meet the threshold for external reporting. |
| 2019 | 7 | 4 - unfounded 3 - upheld | 7 - physical interventions/restraint by staff |
| 2020 | 4 | 2 - upheld 2 - unconfirmed | 4 - physical interventions/restraint by staff (All were reported to TUSLA) |
| 2021 | 11 | 8 - unconfirmed 3 - upheld | 11 - physical interventions/restraint by staff (All were reported to TUSLA) |
| 2022 | 7 | 5 - unconfirmed 2 - upheld | 5 - physical interventions/restraint by staff 2 - peer on peer (All were reported to TUSLA) |
| 2023 | 11 | 3 - unconfirmed 7 - upheld 1 - withdrawn | 5 - physical interventions/restraint by staff 6 - peer on peer (Of these 10 were reported to TUSLA) |
| 2024 | 8 | 2 - unconfirmed 5 - upheld 1- withdraw | 2 - physical interventions/restraint by staff 6 - peer on peer (Of these 5 were reported to TUSLA) |
| Year | No. of Sexual Assaults Reported | Outcome | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | 2 | 2 - unfounded | |
| 2016 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | 2 | 1 - unfounded 1 - probably unfounded | |
| 2019 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | 2 | 1 - unfounded 1 - upheld | 1 allegation while at Oberstown 1 allegation when left Oberstown - both by same young person, allegation between peers (Of these 1 was reported to TUSLA) |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 - withdrawn | CCTV showed they were unfounded |
| 2022 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | 3 | 1 - upheld 2 - unfounded | 1 - incident between peers |
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1311.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times ambulances have been called to the juvenile detention centre in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form.[33805/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
| Request | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of times ambulances have been called to Oberstown 01.01.15 – 21.08.24 | N/A | 7 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
Up to and including 21/08/24
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1312.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of inmates who have died while in juvenile detention or while on probation following release from the service; and if a breakdown can be provided on the cause of death in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form.[33806/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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There were no deaths in Oberstown over the period in question.
The second part of the question could be addressed to the Probation Service, as Oberstown do not have records on this.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1313.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently in juvenile detention in the State who previously served time in juvenile detention for an offence in the past, in tabular form.[33807/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
| 26/08/2024 | Young People in Residence Today | Young People Previously in Juvenile Detention | First Time in Juvenile Detention |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 28 | 10 |
Of the 38 young people in residence today (26/08/2024) 10 young people have not served previous periods of time in Juvenile Detention.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1314.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers working in the juvenile detention centre, in tabular form.[33808/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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There is currently one permanent social worker employed in Oberstown.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1315.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of chaplains working in the juvenile detention centre, in tabular form..[33809/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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There is one full time chaplain working in Oberstown.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1316.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of counsellors or psychologists currently working in the juvenile detention centre, in tabular form.[33831/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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HSE Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (FCAMHS) provides psychiatric services to young people in Oberstown. Tusla’s ACTS (Assessment Consultation Therapy Service) provides multidisciplinary services to address behaviours associated with complex clinical needs.
Oberstown offers programmed interventions that aim to build young people’s responsibilities and address the factors associated with their offending behaviour. These interventions are developed and offered in line with each young person’s individual CEHOP® (Care, Education, Health, Offending Behaviour, Preparation for Leaving) care plan. The principles of restorative practice, with a focus on building relationships and positive outcomes, underpin all interventions with young people on Campus.
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