Tusla paid €72m to third-party providers of children’s emergency accommodation

The information about Tusla's spending was released to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín following a Freedom of Information query. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Tusla paid over €72.5m to third-party companies providing emergency accommodation for children in State care last year.

One provider received more than €17.2m in 2024 and has been paid a further €3.4m in the first quarter of this year, according to figures provided by Tusla, the child and family agency.

Baig and Mirza Health Service, trading as Kare Plus South, has been the highest-paid provider for the past three years and has received €43.1m over the past four and a half years.

Separately, Baig and Mirza Real Estate, which is also part of Baig and Mirza Gulf Holdings, has been paid €1.8m over the same period.

Tusla paid €215.5m to 31 firms since 2021

Since 2021, Tusla has paid out €215.5m to a total of 31 companies, including €15.8m of this paid in the first three months of this year. The total spend in 2021 was €8.5m.

The companies are paid to provide accommodation through Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs), which are used when residential care, foster care, and regulated emergency placements are not available. These consist of rented accommodation such as houses and hotels.

According to documents released to Aontú under Freedom of Information, Tusla accommodated 66 children in hotels over the past six months.

'Tusla's use of unregulated SEAs should end'

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, who obtained the figures, has called for Tusla to end its use of unregulated SEAs. Mr Tóibín said:  

Instead of pumping millions into the unregulated sector, the Government needs to start supporting and funding the regulated private and voluntary care sectors, and indeed foster families. 

The Meath TD said concerns have been raised regarding vetting standards among staff in some SEA locations.

“It is clear the system is crumbling. We need an urgent debate on the welfare of children in care,” he said.

Tusla has informed Aontú that it has ceased contracts with four companies in the past two years over issues with vetting and recruitment practices.

A spokesperson for Tusla said the management of SEAs has “evolved significantly” since the implementation of the national standard operating procedure by the agency in late 2022.

New companies engaging with Tusla for the provision of staffing and premises through SEAs, after 30 days of operation, must apply for registration with the Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS).

This application is assessed and, where a centre meets the set regulatory requirements, it is added to the national register. Only centres that have been registered are subject to inspection by ACIMS.

“Currently, aspects of the requirements under this process are being applied in a due-diligence process to all existing Special Emergency Arrangements providers,” the spokesperson said.

To date, four services have obtained registration while a further 14 are under assessment.

 Mr Tóibín said it is “extremely alarming” that there are 37 children missing from Tusla’s care. Of these, 32 are refugees or seeking international protection in Ireland.

At present, there are 489 unaccompanied minors in state care, ranging in age from 11 to 17.

Almost half were referred within the last six months but the data also shows that one child has been in care for more than seven years.