BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
Oberstown Children Detention Campus is governed by a Board of Management appointed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs under the Children Act 2001, as amended (s. 164). Under the Act (s. 167), the Board has 12 members plus a Chairperson and the membership includes: representatives of the Minister’s Department, the Department of Education and Skills and Túsla; two representatives from the local community and two staff members, with five members identified via the State Boards appointment process. Members are appointed for a term, renewable, of up to four years. The Board’s authority is set out in the 2001 Act (primarily ss. 165 and 167) which provides that it has such powers as are necessary or expedient for the exercise of its functions.
The current Board of Management was appointed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, TD, for three years from June 1 2016. This is the date on which the Children (Amendment) Act 2015 came into effect, creating a single Oberstown campus, the Oberstown Children Detention Campus (Oberstown).
The Board is chaired by Professor Ursula Kilkelly and its members are as follows:
Professor Ursula Kilkelly - Chairperson
Professor Ursula Kilkelly was appointed Chairperson of the Board of Management in January 2016. She is a Professor of Law at University College Cork and an established international expert in youth justice and detention and children’s rights. At UCC, she teaches Juvenile Justice and Children’s Rights on the LLM in Children’s Rights and Family Law and is is co-editor of Youth Justice: An International Journal. Appointed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, TD.
Mr Tadgh Delaney
Tadgh Delaney is an Assistant Principal Officer in the Irish Youth Justice Service, Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Appointed 1 July 2017 by the Minister on foot of the requirements of section 167 of the Children Act 2001.
Mr Michael Farrell
Michael Farrell, appointed 1 June 2016, former Corporate Secretary and Director of Human Resources at University College Cork, founding principal of Soil Barra, a co-educational primary school, in Ballincollig, Co Cork. Appointed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, following selection through the PAS process.
Mr Diego Gallagher
Diego Gallagher, appointed 1 June, is a solicitor and partner in the Health and Social Care Team with Byrne Wallace Solicitors, Dublin. Appointed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, following selection through the PAS process.
Ms Elizabeth Howard
Elizabeth Howard, appointed 1 June 2016, is a local community representative resident in the vicinity of the Oberstown campus. She was appointed by the Minister on foot of the requirements of section 167 of the Children Act 2001.
Mr Charles Irwin
Charles Irwin, appointed 1 June 2016, is an Accountant with the Mid West Simon Community. Appointed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, following selection through the PAS process.
Ms Laoise Manners
Laoise Manners, appointed 1 January 2017, is a Medical Support Work on the Oberstown Campus. She is an elected staff nominee, appointed by the Minister on foot of the requirements of section 167 of the Children Act 2001.
Ms Sinéad O'Herlihy
Sinéad O’Herlihy, appointed 1 June 2016, is a Night Supervision Officer on the Oberstown campus. She is an elected staff nominee, appointed by the Minister on foot of the requirements of section 167 of the Children Act 2001.
Mr Don O'Leary
Don O’Leary, appointed 1 July 2017, is the Director of the Cork Life Centre, a voluntary organization offering an alternative learning environment to young people who find themselves outside mainstream education. Appointed by the Minister on foot of the requirements of section 167 of the Children Act 2001.
Mr Pat Rooney
Pat Rooney, appointed 1 June 2016, is a local community representative resident in the vicinity of the Oberstown campus. He was appointed by the Minister on foot of the requirements of section 167 of the Children Act 2001.
Ms Emer Woodfull
Emer Woodfull, appointed 1 June 2016 is a practicing barrister at the Law Library Dublin who was called to the Bar in 2003. She has a background in child, criminal, investigative, inquiry & employment law. She was previously an award winning current affairs broadcaster and series producer in RTE the national broadcaster. In her early career she worked as a teacher in a school for young offenders. Appointed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, following selection through the PAS process.