Tusla to recruit extra staff to expand services to child victims of sexual abuse

Tusla said with additional funding it was 'recruiting a number of social work, therapeutic and administrative posts' for the three Barnahus services.

Tusla is hoping recruitment of key staff this year will ensure it is able to provide long-promised joint interviews, by gardaí and social workers, to child victims of sexual abuse.

It also said additional funding in next year’s budget for Barnahus centres — specialist multi-agency facilities — will progress the development of a new premises in Cork and the expansion of early intervention support.

The Icelandic model, which translates as ‘Child House’, brings together medical, child protection, therapeutic and policing services under one roof.

This is designed to minimise the trauma for children, and their parents and, if the child is able, increase the very low level of prosecution of offenders.

The Oireachtas children’s committee heard last May only an estimated 2% of cases in the country’s first Barnahus facility, in Galway, ended in a criminal prosecution in the courts.

Tusla officials told the committee it was taking seven to eight years for cases to get to court because of a number of reasons, including problems sharing data between the family agency and gardaí, delays in the disclosure of information in the courts and the lack of joint interview teams.

The officials said they hoped to extend Barnahus West (Galway) and properly establish Barnahus South (Cork) following Budget 2025.

In a statement, Tusla said with additional funding it was “recruiting a number of social work, therapeutic and administrative posts” for the three Barnahus services.

The third service, Barnahus East, is planned for Dublin, where it is expected to subsume the existing Alder’s Unit (formerly St Louise’s) in Tallaght Hospital.

“These additional posts will ensure that Tusla Barnahus will be able to provide joint specialist interviews alongside an An Garda Síochána and that children and families will be offered early intervention to meet their therapeutic needs,” the statement said.

This will help ensure that children who are referred/ come to Barnahus will receive a coordinated interagency response and that the child and families will receive the support and information that they need.

It said it was working to commission additional services to provide further therapeutic support and advocacy services to children who have experienced child sexual abuse.

The statement said the Galway unit, established in 2019, serves the North-West, West and Mid-West regions.

Barnahus South started operating in Cork City last May, where it is a “virtual service” coordinating services. It is awaiting the opening of a dedicated facility on St Mary’s Health Campus.

Tusla said this premises was “under development” and added there were plans to extend the service to people in Waterford and South Tipperary.

Emer O’Neill, of the charity Cari, which provides therapeutic care for children who have been sexually abused in Limerick and Dublin, said: “Barnahus plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive, trauma-informed care to children who have experienced sexual abuse.

“It is great to see the positive impact this service has had on children and families, especially through early intervention. We have seen this first-hand as we are collaborating with Barnahus West in this early intervention.” 

She said expanding Barnahus was important as it would ensure every child and family “regardless of location” could access the specialised support they need.

“The need for growth and equality in access to these services is clear, and it is essential that the momentum continues to build so that more children and families can benefit from this model,” she said.

At the committee hearing last May, officials from the Department of Health admitted there were “significant waiting lists” for therapy.

In July, the committee sent a letter to the ministers for children, health and justice as well as the HSE, Tusla and gardaí, recommending the country needed 10, not three, Barnahus centres. This was to ensure children and their parents were not hindered by geography or local demand.

It also highlighted the need for continuity of care and the need for long-term care.