Publication of Oberstown Annual Report 2022

4th July 2023

Oberstown has published its annual report for the year 2022. Oberstown is Ireland’s only children detention facility for young people under 18 years placed on remand or detention orders by the courts. The report outlines a number of key developments made in providing care for young people in custody, in addition to progression pathways for those leaving the facility.

Figures of Oberstown in 2022 showed:

• A total of 110 young people were detained on remand or detention orders. [An increase from 102 in 2021]
• The average daily population was 32 (13 remand, 19 detention). [An average increase of 1 on remand in 2021]
• The average age was 16. 
• The average length of detention order (days) was 227. [A reduction from 357 days in 2021]
• The average length of remand order (days) was 63. [An increase from 56 days in 2021] 
• Of 87 onward placements in 2022, 48 young people went to their homes, 16 went to residential care, 14 went to relative or foster care/other, and 9 were moved to prison. [decrease of people being placed in their own homes and prison and an increase in placements in residential care compared to 2021 figures]

The Oberstown model of care, termed in the report as the CEHOP framework covered five pillars: care, education, health, offending behaviour, and preparation for leaving. These pillars are additionally encompassed within the Children’s Rights Policy framework, which became operational on the campus last year. 

The annual report presents key developments in the management of the campus, and illustrates the notable achievements of the young people at Oberstown over the course of 2022. Highlights include:

• Publishing the Oberstown Strategy 2022-2026, a key milestone in the development of Oberstown’s service.
• A positive annual inspection by HIQA assessing the service against the Children’s Rights Policy Framework, which sets out 12 Campus Rules that help ensure young people are involved in key decisions about their care.
• Visits from international partners which validated the view that Oberstown’s rights-based participative approach compares favourably to international best practice.
• Continued growth of Oberstown skills training programmes, focusing on providing young people with practical skills that increase their prospects of employment in the future. In 2022, 22 young people achieved a certificate in Fitness Instruction, 18 young people completed a course in manual handling, and 22 qualified for a Safe Pass certificate.
• Development of an online career guidance portal and support programme for young people.
• A total of 28 Gaisce awards were achieved by young people during the year, including two gold medals, the highest level of achievement.
• A national exhibition of artworks created by young people at Oberstown, shown at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). The show was the result of a collaboration between Gaisce – The President’s Award, IMMA and Oberstown.

Read the full Oberstown Children Detention Campus Annual Report 2022 here.