Tusla 'deeply regrets' failure 'to provide timely access to special care for some young people'

In July, Tusla was ruled to be in contempt of court for failing to secure special care placements. File picture: Bill Binzen/Corbis

Child and family agency Tusla says it "deeply regrets" it cannot “fulfil our statutory obligations” to provide timely access to special care beds, with just half of such beds currently operational.

Special care beds are for the most vulnerable children subject to special care orders from the courts. The country has a capacity of 26 special care beds, but only 13 are currently operating because of staffing issues.

In July, the agency was ruled to be in contempt of court for failing to secure special care placements. The ruling detailed how almost 160 staff left the agency's special care service in the four years up to February last year. 

It highlighted a staffing issue in the agency’s special care units at Crannóg Nua and Ballydowd in Dublin, and Coovagh House in Limerick.

Last month, the issue of special care arrangements was at the centre of 17 cases reported on by the Child Law Project. 

It noted: “In most instances, the child was in an unregulated special emergency arrangement, from which they frequently absconded, placing themselves at risk of criminality and sexual exploitation. Often these children had been deemed eligible for special care, but no place was available.” 

Tusla said on Tuesday: “We deeply regret the current situation where we are unable to fulfil our statutory obligations to provide timely access to special care for some young people subject to a High Court order, and the impact this is having for these young people. 

"There are currently 13 beds in operation, out of a maximum capacity of 26. While we have been making every effort to increase the overall number of special care beds, recruitment and retention challenges have been ongoing for a number of years, preventing the service from operating at full capacity.” 

The agency said, however, that when a young person was awaiting a placement, they were cared for in a residential or emergency setting, and had an allocated key worker and an active care plan.

“Their care is coordinated on a 24-hour basis. Where there are concerns in relation to exploitation, there is intensive engagement with An Garda Síochána to ensure the young person’s safety. 

"We are utilising all resources available to us in special care to keep the current number of beds open, including the expansion of qualifications, national and international recruitment campaigns, graduate sponsorship schemes, increasing third-level placements, the establishment of our Children’s Residential Services Training College earlier this year, and the introduction of our social work apprenticeship and social care work-based learning programmes.” 

The agency expects further placements to become available in the coming months.