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23rd July 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 27 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Concerns Over Staffing Levels At Lusk Detention Centre Ten members of staff at Trinity House, the children’s detention centre in Lusk, have been on sick leave for more than a year, which is causing major problems with staffing levels, it has emerged. The hope among local residents is that this staff shortage will not have an adverse effect on the security of the local area. Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald told the County Leader, “A third of beds at the facility are lying empty because of staffing problems and issues with a roster, which was implemented in February last. A Government decision to stop sending 16year-olds to adult prisons, coincided with a spike in judges remanding teenagers, putting demand at Oberstown campus at a record high,” she said. Local TD, Brendan Ryan (Lab) told the County Leader, “I don’t believe this causes any security alert for the area. It’s a case of poor HR management. We have seen high levels of absenteeism across various sectors of the HSE. This unacceptable level of absenteeism must be a focus for the management team at Oberstown,” said Ryan. Oberstown
By Patrick Finnegan began receiving 16year-old boys last year from St Patrick’s Institution, which was heavily criticised in prison reports. However, judges recently complained about the lack of room for young offenders, who they have been forced to free back on to the streets with serious convictions. It is generally accepted that critical steps are required to tackle the problems on site, where there is an absolute requirement for additional staff to ensure the facility can be fully utilised and is fit for purpose for detainees and for those who work across that campus. There are 24 beds in Trinity House School including eight waiting to open - 20 in Oberstown Boys School and eight in Oberstown Girls School which are rarely full. A spokesperson for the
Department of Children told the County Leader that talks were still continuing with unions to open a new eight bed unit on the grounds, adding that temporary or agency staff
would have to be taken on. The spokesperson continued, “Good progress has been made and posts for addiction counsellor and speech and language therapist have been filled, with the psychology post due to be filled in September. Training is due to take place, with a view to implementing mental
health screening for all young people in the detention system before the end of December. The Minister has welcomed the ongoing development of this important service on the Oberstown campus, which was a key recommendation of the Ryan Commission on child abuse of 2009.”
Local Workers Can Avail Of New Jobs There may be very good news for IT workers in the North County, with the announcement that well-known IT security company, Symantec, are setting up a new European Customer
Management Centre in nearby Blanchardstown. This will create 400 new jobs and the creation of these jobs is seen as representing an ideal opportunity for skilled graduates in the North County to avail of many
of them. The newly opened road, linking the N2 and N3 means that there is now an ease of access from Swords and other locations in the North County to Symantec, and many North County based
Pictured is young Adam Crozer from Rush at the launch of Marks and Spencer's partnership with Down Syndrome Ireland for the Back to School period. Adam was formerly a model for Down Syndrome Ireland.
workers are expected to apply for these jobs. The news was warmly welcomed by CEO of Fingal Dublin Chamber, Tony Lambert who told the
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County Leader, “Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce warmly welcomes the announcement of 400 new high skilled jobs in Symantec in its new European Customer Management Centre in Blanchardstown.” Lambert continued, “We are delighted to welcome these jobs which will build on the many high quality ones already provided by Symantec. It will make Symantec one of the largest, if not the largest employer in North County
Dublin. This is a great shot in the arm for the local economy and augurs well for the economic well-being of the North County region into the future.” “Symantec Ireland has been in operation in the area for 22 years and is deeply committed to the community in which it is located and this announcement is a clear statement of its continued committed to the region,” he concluded.