Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Sep 1995

Vol. 456 No. 2

Written Answers. - Oberstown Boys' Centre Escapees.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

80 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education if she will report fully on the circumstances of escapes from Oberstown Boys' Centre in Lusk, County Dublin, by four residents on 9 September 1995, and by another four on 10 September 1995; and the action, if any, required to protect the local community from fear and potential damage to property and person as a result of regular escapes from Oberstown. [13673/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The abscondings referred to by the Deputy relate to two incidents at Oberstown Boys' Centre on Saturday, 9 September 1995 and one incident on Sunday, 10 September 1995.

The first abscond incident occurred at about 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, 9 September when two boys managed to break out through a roof light in their house unit and absconded from the centre. The two boys involved returned to the centre the following day, one voluntarily and the other having been apprehended by staff.

The second incident on the Saturday occurred at approximately 9 p.m. when two boys were returning to their house unit from the gymnasium in the grounds of the centre. One boy ran away from staff but the other boy was returned to the unit immediately by staff. The boy who had absconded was returned to the centre on September 17 by the Garda.

On Sunday, 10 September 1995, four boys were returning to their house unit with staff following a football match in the grounds. The four boys ran away in different directions and absconded from the centre. All four boys were returned to the centre at 2.30 a.m. the following morning by Garda.

On the occasion of each of these absconds, the local community and Garda were alerted immediately and staff of the centre gave chase and sought to return the boys involved.

I can assure the Deputy that I view these developments with the utmost seriousness. Members of the local community have every right to expect to be protected from incidents of this nature and it is my intention to ensure that every possible step is taken to avoid a repetition of such incidents.

Arising from the events in question, a group comprising management and staff at the centre has undertaken a comprehensive review of current control procedures to identify deficiencies and consider what further steps need to be taken to address the problem of absconds.

Officials from my Department will be meeting with the management of the centre in the coming days to consider the group's findings and arrange for the implementation of improved control procedures.