There were 75 young people – 72 men and three women – detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus during the first quarter of 2019, with 44 on detention orders and 31 on remand orders.

Nearly half (47 per cent) had previously been subject to a remand or detention order.

The Q1 2019 Profile of Young People in Detention report also shows that 41 per cent had previously been in care or had significant involvement with Tusla.

A large majority (57 per cent) were not engaged in education prior to detention, and more than one in five (23 per cent) had a diagnosed learning disability. Almost a third (31 per cent) had suffered the loss of one or both parents through death, imprisonment or no long-term contact.

Nearly three-quarters (71 per cent) were considered to have substance misuse problems and 41 per cent had a mental health need.

Pat Bergin, director of Oberstown, said: “In Oberstown we have a unique personalised care model for young people that takes into account these challenging factors and is centred on their care, education and health needs.

“Our mission of helping young people to move away from offending requires partnership with other stakeholders and agencies to support young people both in Oberstown and beyond.”

Professor Ursula Kilkelly, chair of the Oberstown board, said: “Almost half of the young people on detention during the first three months of this year had previous remand or detention orders.

“At Oberstown we are committed to helping young people to address their reoffending behaviour through learning and development across a range of programmes with the aim of reintegrating them back into the community, capable of making a positive and productive contribution to society.

“We have recently worked in partnership with organisations such as Java Republic and Image Fitness on unique career skills initiatives for young people and give them the best possible chance to move on with their lives in a positive way after they leave Oberstown.”