2902. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the breakdown of staffing levels in Oberstown Children Detention Campus; the levels of staff vacancy per role; the number of staff who have been hired since 2025; the number of staff who have resigned since 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57515/26]

The Department is working closely with Oberstown management to ensure that staffing levels are aligned with operational demands, workforce planning is further strengthened, and staff are appropriately supported in what is a highly challenging role.

At the start of 2026 Oberstown had sanction to recruit up to 266 WTEs.

For 2026, Government provided €2.176 million in additional funding for Oberstown to increase staffing levels, including funding for 11 additional whole-time equivalent staff posts.

Oberstown also started 2026 with a need to recruit staff for some existing vacancies.

In the first six months of 2026, Oberstown has been successful in recruiting the majority of those extra staff, despite tight labour market conditions. Since the end of 2025, Oberstown Children Detention Campus has recruited 21 new staff members and had 7 staff departures.

Current vacancies comprise 2.84 whole-time equivalent (WTE) frontline positions and 5.45 WTE vacancies across other roles throughout the campus.