Trevor Sargent
Question:129 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will deal with the crisis in the residential units run by his Department. [23502/01]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
There are five residential special schools for young offenders under the aegis of my Department. They are, Trinity House, Oberstown, Lusk, County Dublin, Oberstown Boys Centre, Oberstown, Lusk, County Dublin, Oberstown Girls Centre, Oberstown, Lusk, County Dublin, Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre, Kildonan Road, Finglas West, Dublin 11, and St. Joseph's Special School, Ferryhouse, Clonmel, County Tipperary.
In common with many other employers, these centres have been experiencing some difficulties in recruiting and retaining suitable staff over the past year or so. The experience of the centres in this regard has been mirrored throughout the residential child care sector as a whole.
The larger variety of career opportunities for both potential and existing staff brought about by growth in the economy generally and the expansion of the child care sector particularly, has been a major contributory factor giving rise to these difficulties. This has been typified by the larger than normal turnover of staff at these centres in the past year, as some existing and experienced staff left to take up career opportunities either elsewhere in the child care sector or in related areas. In this regard it should be stressed that the child care workers' salaries are governed by pay scales agreed in accordance with national pay agreements and Government pay policy.
The centres in question, in addition to having a complement of sanctioned permanent staff posts, have recourse to other staffing options such as the use of temporary and relief staff and overtime for operational purposes as needs arise.
Management of the centres have informed my Department that recent advertising and recruitment drives to fill vacant posts at the centres have generated a somewhat better level of response than heretofore. Management anticipates being able to fill the bulk of existing vacancies from recruitment drives under way at the centres.
My Department is fully aware of the responsibilities of these centres in meeting the needs of the courts in this area and of the children referred to the centres by the courts. Officials of my Department will meet with the management of these centres this week to get progress reports on how staffing levels currently stand and to hear their proposals for ensuring that appropriate staffing numbers are maintained and that operational capacity is maximised on an ongoing basis.
I have also commissioned an independent review of the existing residential service provision under my Department with a view to ensuring that available places are being used optimally. The outcome of this review will inform future plans in this area.
In relation to the current situation in Oberstown Girls Centre, the temporary reduction by way of the closure of one of its two units until December 2001 is primarily as a result of an unfavourable environmental health report. This report has necessitated urgent remedial works to the unit. I should emphasise, however, that the centre has been able to accommodate all young people referred to it in recent times with the exception of two girls who were aged over 17 and therefore could not be legally detained there. The development of a new pre-release facility will result in an additional three places for Oberstown Girls Centre later this year.