Staff at Oberstown youth detention centre in Dublin will begin a series of work stoppages at 8am this morning.

The dispute over concerns about staffing shortages and health and safety – with unions claiming their members run the risk of being assaulted while on duty on a daily basis.

Workers will walk off the job for four hours today and again every Tuesday for the next four weeks.

Management and the unions have been invited to talks at the Workplace Relations Commission tomorrow.