Children in care spent 297 nights in unregulated placements last year 

Tusla also confirmed that it received 91,499 referrals in total last year — a 10% increase on the number in 2022 and an all-time record.

Children in care were placed in hotels or B&Bs under special emergency arrangements on at least 157 occasions last year, equating to 297 nights spent in such unregulated placements.

As it issued the data, Tusla also said the overall increase in referrals to the National Out of Hours Service (NOHS) "can in large part be attributed to the significant increase of separated children seeking international protection", among other factors.