Surprise at HSE move on children at risk

CHILDREN’S groups, trade unions and Garda associations have reacted with surprise at news the Health Service Executive is privatising the out-of-hours placement service for children.

While many of the groups have given a “guarded welcome” to any improvement in the situation, some have raised concerns about the limitations of the scheme and the speed with which it is being set up.

The HSE put up a notice for tender to run an Emergency Place of Safety Service on the Government procurement website on November 14. It set the closing date for November 27 and said it wanted to start the scheme by December.