Concern expressed over closure of children's unit

Children's charities say they are seriously concerned about the findings of a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report on the Special Care Unit in Ballydowd, west Dublin.

The unit which houses disruptive children was built just nine years ago.

However, it will close in a few weeks because it is no longer fir for purpose.

Barnardos, the Irish Association of Young People in Care and the ISPCC say management failed utterly in their duty to protect children.

Advocacy Manager with Barnardos, Nora Gibbons, said: "It basically tells us that the building is not fit for purpose, that the children are being kept in rooms described as 'bleak' and 'severe'."

"But much more seriously, it has actually heightened a number of issues that we are concerned about, (including) the ability of the management or staff to staff the unit, failure to provide six care staff with Children First child protection guidelines".

"Very basic things" she added.