‘Unsafe’ children’s home remains open

A CHILDREN’S home recommended for closure five years ago remains open despite being described as unsuitable and unsafe by inspectors.

The Social Services Inspectorate recommended in 2003 that the home, Treeview residential centre in Rushbrooke, Cobh, Co Cork, no longer be used to house children because the building “belonged to an era when large numbers of children were cared for together in institutions”.

However, despite an acknowledgement from the Southern Health Board in 2003 that the home was unsuitable — and that it looked forward to either redeveloping the building or using the proceeds of its sale to build or buy a more suitable premises — it remains in use.