Tusla: Physical abuse and neglect big issues amid 34% surge in child protection cases
Almost 47,000 child protection referrals were made to Tusla in 2025, compared to just under 35,000 in 2023. Picture: iStock
Child protection cases referred to Tusla have jumped by 34% in the last two years — with the largest increases in physical abuse and neglect.
Almost 47,000 child protection referrals were made to the agency in 2025, compared to just under 35,000 in 2023.
Tusla's 2025 annual report was published on Tuesday, with CEO Kate Duggan saying Tusla experienced the “largest ever demand” for its services last year.
The total number of referrals — comprising of child welfare referrals and child protection referrals — hit a new high of 106,000 in 2025.
An analysis of the 2025 report, along with the two previous annual reports, by the Irish Examiner reveals the scale of the increase in need for Tusla services. It shows there were 46,830 child protection referrals in 2025, compared to 34,928 in 2023 — a rise of 34%. This includes:
- 12,177 referrals of physical abuse in 2025, compared to 8,375 in 2023 (+45%);
- 7,493 referrals of neglect in 2025, compared to 5,465 (+37%);
- 21,975 referrals of emotional abuse in 2025, compared to 15,908 in 2023 (+38%);
- 6,557 referrals of sexual abuse in 2025, compared to 5,467 in 2023 (+20%).
Referring to the increase in the last year, the 2025 report said: “These significant increases have challenged frontline services, causing us to respond to maintain our support of Ireland’s most vulnerable children and families. Despite an increase in funding levels, we remained significantly challenged in recruiting key skill sets of social work and social care staff.”
In relation to child sexual abuse, the report said that there were 462 referrals to its specialist Barnahus inter-agency service in 2025. It compares to 333 referrals in 2024, an increase of 39%.
This service, which brings together the HSE, gardaí, Children’s Health Ireland, and Tusla, is in place in the west and, more recently, the south. The service in the south has expanded to Waterford and South Tipperary.
It said that almost 5,900 children were in care in 2025, most of whom were in foster care.
There has been a steady increase in unaccompanied minors referred to Tusla, rising from 530 in 2023, to 619 in 2024, and to 782 in 2025 — an increase of 47.5% in two years.
The report said that the minors were largely coming from Somalia, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.
Tusla opened 206 registered residential beds in 2025 to try and cater for the increased demand.
A total of €320m was paid out to private companies and community organisations to provide accommodation to children in care, including unaccompanied minors, in 2025.
This compares to a bill of €265.7m in 2024, indicating an increase of 20% (about €54m) last year.
The greatest rise was in providing accommodation for unaccompanied minors — rising from around €61.3m in 2024 to €94.6m in 2025 (+54%).
Of the total €320m paid out, the top five recipients were: Ashdale Care (Ireland) Limited (€31.7m); MMC Children’s Services Ltd (€30.5m); Odyssey Social Care Ltd (€19m); Daffodil Care Services Unlimited Company (€18.7m), and Baig and Mirza Health Services Ltd (€15.2m).
- Cormac O’Keeffe, Security Correspondent
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