27-04-2025
Tusla unable to secure special care for three children in danger
Child and Family Agency Tusla has said it is currently unable to meet its statutory obligation to provide secure special care for three children in danger.
Special care is an intervention of last resort, which involves placing young people in a secure facility, and depriving them of their freedom, as a short-term therapeutic intervention.
It only takes place on foot of an order by the High Court, and when the young people meet certain eligibility criteria.
Earlier this week, the High Court was told that the State has no special care place available for a teenage girl who was threatened with being shot if she does not cooperate with a drug gang seeking to exploit her.
Tusla told RTÉ's This Week that the agency has seen a marked increase in the number of children presenting with highly complex needs, including mental health, substance misuse, disabilities, exploitation and behaviours linked to criminality.
It said: "As of the 25th of April 2025, three young people are the subject of a High Court Order and are awaiting a placement in Special Care.
"For these young people, we are currently unable to fully meet our statutory obligations regarding Special Care, and we share the concerns this causes for the High Court, for professionals involved in the care of these young people, and most importantly for the young people themselves and their families."
It said the young people involved are being placed in alternative care settings, and each child is allocated a key worker, and an active care plan is in place.
There is currently only enough staff to operate 15 places in Special Care units. If fully staffed the units could accommodate up to 26 young people.
Tusla said it has faced challenges recruiting and retaining staff.
Child protection experts say the pay scales for staff in the Special Care units have been inadequate.
Former special rapporteur for child protection Dr Conor O'Mahony of University College Cork said that the pay grade in place up to now "was not attractive enough to keep staff working in that area".
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform says that a new enhanced pay grade for Special Care has now been sanctioned.
Tusla said this new grade, along with a targeted recruitment campaign, will allow for another place to open in Special Care next month.
However, Dr O'Mahony said it is unclear whether the new grade will be enough to bring the system up to full capacity.
"The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform had to be dragged kicking and screaming into consenting to this after resisting it for quite some time… I very much hope it will prove to be successful but it is early days… whether it is going to be enough, or too little too late remains to be seen."
