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.

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.

It said typically, placements arranged by the NOHS are with emergency foster carers, extended family members or emergency residential placements, but where there is a shortfall, a special emergency arrangement (SEA) may be required to ensure an immediate place of safety for a young person.

Those SEAs are unregulated placements, mostly in rented accommodation, apartments, and houses with staffing from third-party providers, while hotels or B&Bs may also be used, but according to a spokesperson, "only when other accommodation types are not available and for the shortest period possible".

The overall number of referrals to the NOHS has been increasing significantly — there were 2,761 such referrals for the first six months of 2023, 40% more than the same period in 2022.

But within that number is a small number of SEAs involving hotels and B&Bs, which last year included one child spending 24 days in a hotel.

A Tusla spokesperson said that was a rare event, with stays in hotels and B&Bs typically for only one or two nights' duration.

"The 157 NOHS referrals in 2023 spent a total of cumulative 297 nights in hotel or B&B accommodation," the spokesperson said. 

"Of the 157, 106 spent only one night, 25 spent two nights and 12 spent three nights — in other words, 91% of children and young people placed in hotel accommodation by the NOHS spent no more than three nights in hotels cumulatively in 2023."

They admitted that four spent more than five nights in hotel or B&B accommodation "due to specific circumstances of their cases and care needs". 

The spokesperson said: "Tusla has experienced a significant increase in demand for all its services, including NOHS. 

"Anecdotally, the increase in referrals to the NOHS can in large part be attributed to the significant increase of separated children seeking international protection (with a notable decrease during summer months), and a range of other factors including the complexity of presenting cases, and the continued development and expansion of the service".

"It’s important to say that the number of referrals does not necessary reflect the number of placements and that any child or young person who requires a placement receives one.

Tusla has experienced a significant increase in demand for all its services, a spokesperson said.

"Over the last two years, the rise in demand in both our mainstream and separated children seeking international protection services, combined with an increase in case complexity, is reflected in the increased need for special emergency arrangements."

"As of the week ending February 11, 2024 there were 62 young people from community services and 115 Separated Children Seeking International Protection (6 of whom were aged over 18 years) placed in SEAs.”

The figures also show that last year 255 young people from community services were placed in a Special Emergency Arrangement at some point during the year, with an average of 57 young people at the end of any month in 2023, peaking last September, with 69.

In addition, there were 398 separated children seeking international protection accommodated, with an average of 103 separated children seeking international protection in an SEA at the end of any month, rising from 34 at the beginning of January 2023 to 150 at the end of September 2023.

Tusla said this figure had since reduced through scaling up registered and regulated residential placements to meet demand.

Tusla also said it spent €71.393m on SEAs, which can vary considerably per young person.

It recently marked its 10th anniversary and has been under significant pressure when it comes to resources as it strives to increase capacity within its foster care, residential care, emergency provision, and aftercare services.