Watchdog fears over safety risks at children’s hostel

The public health watchdog has expressed concern about significant safety risks identified during an inspection of an emergency hostel for homeless children in Cork.

Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) were informed that there was a high rate of unauthorised absence from the facility, with 610 such incidents recorded over the previous two years. A total of 87 absences were recorded as serious incidents, while gardaí were called to the centre on 95 occasions over the same period.

Hiqa officials claimed policies, procedures and practical measures to promote the safety of young people at the hostel were ineffective. However, they praised the vital and supportive service provided by a resilient staff to vulnerable young people.