Oberstown Children Detention Campus (Oberstown) is Ireland’s national facility for the detention, care and education of young people under 18 years referred by the courts on detention or remand orders.

Established under the Children Act, 2001, the campus provides individualised care through an integrated, multi-professional approach that enables young people to address their offending behaviour and return successfully to society.

Located in Lusk, Co Dublin, the campus is a modern, secure, custom-built facility, with residential units that house up to eight young people. It is authorised to accommodate a maximum of 40 boys and six girls. Young people are cared for 24/7 by Social Care Workers and Night Supervising Officers.

In line with legal requirements, Oberstown meets the needs of young people in relation to their Care, Education, Health, Offending behaviour and Preparation for leaving – the five elements of CEHOP®, the Oberstown framework for care.

Oberstown applies a rights-based model to the care of young people, set out in the Children’s Rights Policy Framework. This means that young people participate in decision making about their care, their lives and the Campus as a whole. The framework has 12 Campus Rules that set standards to ensure that young people at Oberstown are safe, get the best care possible and have their rights respected.

Oberstown falls under the aegis of the Children Detention Schools Unit in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). The service operates under a single Board of Management which is appointed by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. See 'Governance and management'.

The Board, management and staff of Oberstown are responsible for delivering the Oberstown Strategy 2022-2026, which reflects the purpose, vision and values of the service. Oberstown works with a range of stakeholders, including agencies and specialist service providers, to deliver its remit.