Darren O'Rourke
Question:521. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of penal warrants that are currently outstanding within Meath-Westmeath division. [65046/25]
View answerAn Garda Síochána
Questions (521)
Written answers
I am advised by the Garda authorities that there is a total of 97 committal warrants (formerly known as penal warrants) outstanding in the Meath/Westmeath Division.
Garda authorities have advised that warrants may remain outstanding due to a number of factors, including difficulties in relation to the execution of warrants relating to persons actively seeking to evade detection and where limited identification information might be available to support enforcement. These difficulties are compounded where the warrant has been outstanding for some years.
I am assured however that An Garda Síochána execute warrants as expeditiously as possible, giving priority to the execution of warrants relating to serious crimes.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (522)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:522. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of gardaí within the Meath-Westmeath division who have been fully trained in each level of public order training in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [65048/25]
View answerWritten answers
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
Prison Service
Questions (523)
Matt Carthy
Question:523. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Irish Prison Service is in the process of shutting down the bakery workshop in Mountjoy; the reason for this; the projected annual costs of buying bread for the prisons from another source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65064/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm the Irish Prison Service has decided to phase out the bakery workshop in Mountjoy Prison in the coming months. It will be replaced with a training facility to deliver certified training in baking skills to people in custody. Work Training Officers will be upskilled to deliver a Level 6 Special Purpose Award.
In addition to enhancing security, this change will reduce costs. Based on the current number of people in custody, the cost of providing bread to Dublin prisons is approximately €550,000 per annum. The present cost, based on ingredients and staffing, is approximately €660,000 per annum.
The IPS provides a range of purposeful activity and valuable skills to assist people on their journey to rehabilitation and employment on release. A wide range of training workshops operate within the prison estate e.g. printing, hairdressing, braille, woodwork, metalwork, construction, industrial cleaning, crafts, catering, waste management, laundry and horticulture. There are over 120 workshops and service activities across the prison estate with a current capacity (including gyms) of 1,784.
The Irish Prison Service has been expanding the number of accredited courses and opportunities available to people in custody through Work and Training in recent years. This has been achieved through enhanced partnership arrangements with accrediting bodies such as City and Guilds, the Guild of Cleaners & Launderers and Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Athlone, Cleanpass, and the National Construction Training Campus at Mount Lucas.
International Protection
Questions (524)
Paul Lawless
Question:524. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will address difficulties faced by residents of County Mayo in securing first-time immigration registration appointments following the centralisation of services to the Dublin Burgh Quay office in January 2025; if he is aware that prior to this change, appointments were available locally at Garda stations such as Ballyhaunis; the rationale for removing local registration options; the steps he will take to ensure timely availability of appointments, given that current advice to applicants is to "keep checking the website" and that no appointments are available for the next 90 days, causing significant financial and logistical burdens for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65070/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Registration Office of my Department is currently experiencing an exceptionally high demand for first time registration appointments and are aware that appointment availability is severely limited.
I understand that the extended wait times to secure an appointment can be frustrating for applicants. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is doing everything possible to facilitate as many customers as possible.
New appointment slots are being released on a rolling 90-day basis, with additional slots being made available where capacity is identified and as any cancellations/reschedules are made. The Registration Office has also extended opening hours and are now open seven days a week to meet this demand. It is anticipated that further measures to increase the availability of appointments will be taken in the coming weeks.
Applicants are advised to monitor the dedicated booking appointment system via the Customer Service Portal at portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/, for any available appointments that may come up due to cancellations.
If customers have successfully booked an appointment, but wish to amend the date, they can do so via the reschedule option to any other available date. Please be aware that given the current exceptional demand it is not possible to accommodate requests for an earlier appointment.
If customers have an emergency, they can submit a query to the Registration Office via the portal and should provide documentary evidence. Details on how to apply for an emergency appointment are available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/submitting-registration-or-renewal-queries/. As the Deputy will be aware, since 13 January 2025, all nationwide first-time registrations of Irish immigration residence permissions are the responsibility my Department. This completed the full civilianisation of the Garda administrative immigration functions as recommended by the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Prior to this transfer over 100 Gardaí were assigned to immigration duties. The release of these Gardaí enables Garda management to focus resources more on enforcement and operational matters such as deportations and investigations. As part of the process of transferring these functions to my Department, the renewal of permissions is now available online for all areas of the country; prior to this renewals in most parts of the country had to be carried out in person.
Forestry Sector
Questions (525)
Paul Lawless
Question:525. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of prime agricultural land being sold for forestry to foreign investment firms, such as a company (details supplied) in coalition with Coillte. [64716/25]
View answerWritten answers
Private landownership in Ireland is a constitutionally protected right, and the decision to dispose of or sell such land is entirely at the discretion of the owner.
Forestry can play a key role in meeting our Climate Action Plan targets and Coillte is actively contributing to the national afforestation targets, the company has also set an ambitious target to enable the creation of new forests in their Forest Estate Land Use Strategy. Coillte have put in place various initiatives to achieve this target, including the creation of new mixed woodlands, which is carried out in cooperation with the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund. Coillte partnered with the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), which is state-owned and part of the NTMA, and Gresham House to establish the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund in January 2023.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (526)
Cathy Bennett
Question:526. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1453 of 4 November 2025, if the allocation of €5 million will allow for all farmers within the cohort known as the so-called forgotten farmers to participate; if it will allow for payments fully in line with those they were previously denied access to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64734/25]
View answerWritten answers
There were 1,254 applications submitted under the scheme to support Long Established Young Farmers by the closing date of 13th August 2025. The allocation of €5 million to provide support for this cohort of farmers is expected to be sufficient to provide the maximum possible payment to eligible applicants, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme. The amount of support per successful applicant will be confirmed when processing of applications has been completed.
Disability Services
Questions (527, 528)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:527. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of section 16A of the Disability Act 2005 applications made, granted and implemented from January 2021 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64643/25]
View answerRuairí Ó Murchú
Question:528. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the guidance, or interim guidance, which is available on the operation of section 16A of the Disability Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64644/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 528 together.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 528 answered with Question No. 527.
Disability Services
Questions (529)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:529. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the oversight and risk management processes in place in relation to section 16A of the Disability Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64645/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (530)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:530. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the HSE and her Department are considering the provision of an interim direction on section 16A of the Disability Act 2005 to ensure existing lawful determinations are implemented without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64646/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (531)
Paul Murphy
Question:531. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of occasions in the past five years on which has Tusla flown children to the UK so they could be accommodated in secure units there; if a guardian ad litem accompanied children on every occasion; who else accompanied the children; the age profile of the children; the number of Irish children currently being accommodated in this way; the length of time they have been living in these arrangements for; the number of occasions on which Tusla hired a private plane; in these cases, if every possible option in Ireland was explored beforehand; if any children turned 18 while in a secure unit in the UK; and if so, the aftercare options they they were offered in the UK and in Ireland. [64662/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter as soon as possible.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (532)
Paul Murphy
Question:532. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of occasions in the past five years on which Tusla has housed in eating disorder units or other CAMHS units children who had not been found to have a mental disorder, due to a lack of secure placements. [64663/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter as soon as possible.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (533)
Paul Murphy
Question:533. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of secure unit places available nationally for both girls and boys in Ireland; how that compares to the demand; and to outline whether there is ever a waiting list. [64664/25]
View answerWritten answers
Special care units are secure, residential facilities for children in care aged between 11 and 17 years. They are detained under a High Court care order for a short-term period of stabilisation when their behaviour poses a real and substantial risk of harm to their life, health, safety, development or welfare. In line with Article 37 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, such detention, which deprives a child of their liberty, is used only as a measure of last resort. The Child and Family Agency (Tusla) has statutory responsibility for the operation of Special Care in Ireland, and for the provision of Special Care beds.
There are 16 placements available in the special care service out of a maximum physical capacity of 26 across the three Special Care Units. However, due to the current complex needs of children in special care requiring 2:1 staffing ratios, only 15 children can be admitted. These placements are split across three Special Care centres. All three of these units are mixed gender.
At present, there are 2 young people who are currently the subject of a Special Care Order (in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991) and are awaiting placement within a Special Care Unit.
Officials in the Department and Tusla are fully aware of the significant challenges facing special care services. The primary limiting factor in relation to the availability of special care beds is the availability of adequate numbers of staff in Special Care Units.
Following extensive engagements between officials in the Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation a new grade and pay scale for Special Care has been sanctioned in an effort to increase staff numbers. The new grade provides additional opportunities and a higher career salary scale for both Social Care Workers and Social Care Leaders. As of September 2025, this new Tusla Special Care Worker grade offers approximately 20% higher pay at top-of-scale compared to the Social Care Worker grade.
€26m has been allocated to special care in Budget 2026, an increase of over €6m on Budget 2025. This is to support the opening of all 26 special care beds by the end of 2026. This investment will facilitate an increase in capacity and enhanced provision by funding new special care staff grades, staff well-being initiatives and additional therapeutic supports. It includes €1.3m to provide an enhanced multi-disciplinary therapeutic service to children on the edge of special care, in special care, and transitioning from a special care environment.
While the overall operation of Special Care and the provision of Special Care beds is the statutory responsibility of Tusla, officials from this Department continue to actively engage with Tusla in relation to the issues impacting on Special Care and will continue to provide additional support to Tusla to address the current challenges.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (534)
Paul Murphy
Question:534. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of special emergency arrangement locations Kare Plus South has open with Tusla; the qualifications its staff must have in order to look after children living in these arrangements; if the staff have therapeutic crisis intervention training; if the staff working in a location (details supplied) where a serious incident took place have therapeutic crisis intervention training; the qualifications the staff members on duty at the time of the stabbing have, without identifying them or the children in question; the ratio of children to staff in the centre at the time of the attack; whether it is the case that this centre was due to be closed the week following the attack prior to the attack itself; if so, why it was being closed; whether any review was ever conducted on the suitability of this accommodation; and if so, by whom. [64665/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (535)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:535. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total annual expenditure by Tusla on subcontracted private providers, including limited companies, engaged to provide residential or emergency care placements for children in each of the past five years. [64890/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (536)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:536. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of limited companies currently providing care placements to Tusla under contract, the range of services delivered, and the number of children placed with each provider. [64891/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (537)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:537. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department monitors the ownership structures, beneficial owners or corporate arrangements of limited companies contracted by Tusla to provide child care placements. [64892/25]
View answerWritten answers
My department does not directly monitor the ownership structures of companies contracted by Tusla, to provide child care placements. However, it does have regular engagement with Tusla at all levels, to address issues related to the provision of services.
Tusla was established as an independent agency under the aegis of my department, to promote the development, welfare, education and protection of children and young people, and to provide supports to vulnerable children and families.
These services include the provision of residential care placements. Tusla provides these services, through a mix of residential centres owned and operated by Tusla, as well as centres operated by NGOs and providers in the private sector.
Regarding the provision of placements by external providers, Tusla procures these services in compliance with relevant legislation, procurement rules, and government Circulars in relation to grant funding.
Tusla has procedures in place for the monitoring of service provision. Tusla’s Practice Assurance and Service Monitoring (PASM) team undertakes reviews of Tusla funded services. It conducts practice audits focussing on governance, risk management, and internal control systems. Where issues or concerns arise Tusla takes action to minimise risk.
While residential care centres provided by the private sector is a necessary component of alternative care, this department has secured significant additional investment (Current and Capital), in recent budgets, for Tusla to increase the number of Tusla owned-and-operated residential care centres.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (538)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:538. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of regulatory inspections carried out by private subcontracted providers in each of the past five years, the number of breaches identified, and the remedial actions directed. [64893/25]
View answerWritten answers
Since November 2013, all designated centres for people with disabilities, both children and adults, must be registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). HIQA is the independent Authority under the aegis of the Department of Health, which was established to drive continuous improvement in Ireland’s health and personal social care services, monitor the safety and quality of these services and promote person-centred care for the benefit of the public.
The Health Act 2007 provided for HIQA’s establishment, its inspection and regulation of designated centres, and the framework for registration of designated centres. A “Designated centre” is the term used in the Health Act 2007 to describe residential centres for (i) people with disabilities, (ii) older people, and (iii) children.
The Health Act 2007 and the associated regulations set out the framework for the regulation of designated centres for people with disabilities and include the basic requirements that providers must meet in ensuring safe, good quality care and support to people with disabilities who live in their centres.
National Standards were also prepared to support service providers to achieve a high standard of care in residential services for children and adults with disabilities.
HIQA’s Disability inspection team is legally responsible for the monitoring, inspection and registration of designated centres for adults and children with a disability.
Inspections are carried out to assess compliance with the Health Act 2007 (as amended), and relevant regulations. Upon completion of an inspection, where the quality of support is insufficient or inadequate, the inspection and monitoring of centres by inspectors ensures that providers are required to take action to rectify issues in relation to the safety and quality of life for people with disabilities in order to bring the centre back into compliance, within an agreed timeframe.
Where necessary, HIQA can apply its powers of enforcement to cancel the registration of a designated centre to operate as a service provider, where it has significant concerns about the quality of governance and oversight in the services concerned.
In many instances the HSE will work with the service and HIQA to assist in moving the service to compliance.
All inspection reports are published on the HIQA website, www.hiqa.ie (except where to do so would identify individuals e.g. a centre with one resident).
Officials within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality are liaising with HIQA in relation to the detailed information sought in this question. Unfortunately, due to time constraints this was unavailable at the time of this answer. Therefore, a further comprehensive response will issue to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (539)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:539. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any private subcontracted provider has been sanctioned, suspended or removed from eligibility to receive referrals from Tusla in the past five years, and the reasons for those decisions. [64894/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (540)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:540. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average cost per child per week for placements provided by subcontracted private companies, and the comparable cost of Tusla-operated placements delivering the same level of care. [64895/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (541)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:541. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Tusla has completed any value-for-money assessments on the use of private subcontractors for childcare placements, and if she will publish the assessments. [64896/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this matter relates to Tusla's value-for-money assessments on the use of private subcontractors this requires additional information from the agency. As such, I have referred the question to Tusla, to reply directly to the Deputy.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (542)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:542. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has received any reports, internal warnings or correspondence regarding governance failures, safeguarding concerns or quality-of-care issues within subcontracted private care providers. [64897/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality regularly receives correspondence from a variety of sources, including from the Child and Family Agency, key stakeholders, elected representatives, and members of the public. Correspondence can be in relation to a wide variety of topics, from queries regarding registration and location of centres, to complaints about individual services and members of staff.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has responsibility for the delivery of child protection and alternative care services in the State, and there are provisions under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 that provides the basis for Tusla to enter into arrangements with private providers. The Child Care Act 1991, which is the primary piece of legislation governing alternative care and child protection in Ireland, is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, that at its core seeks to promote the welfare of children who may not be receiving adequate care and protection.
Consequently, the Act sets out a detailed statutory framework, which includes but is not limited to provisions requiring Tusla to have regard to the best interests of the child, the criteria for bringing children into care, the types of placements where they may be placed, and the responsibilities of the State to children in alternative care. The child protection and welfare landscape in Ireland has changed greatly since the Act’s commencement, and there are areas of the legislation that require updating to reflect this, our improved understanding of children’s rights, and to allow for positive practice developments to be enshrined in law where needed. In 2023, following a comprehensive review of the Child Care Act 1991, the General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Act was published. This is turn has led to the drafting of amending legislation which will update parts of the 1991 Act, which is soon to be published.
The placement of children in alternative care is also governed by Regulations and Standards for Foster Care, Residential Care, and Special Care. These Regulations and Standards set out the detailed criteria against which Tusla is inspected, in its provision of alternative care services. The application of these Regulations and Standards promotes safe and high-quality practice in alternative care. Tusla’s Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS) manages the registration and inspection of non-statutory Children’s Residential Services, as well as non-statutory Foster Care agencies. The Department of Children receives Tusla’s Alternative Care Inspection Monitoring inspection reports. Reports that are considered significantly non-compliant are reviewed to identify any practice issues which can be escalated where deemed necessary.
Tusla has indicated that it is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children in the care of the State or being accommodated by Tusla, due to a number of factors, including difficulties in maintaining the number of foster carers; increasing complexity of the needs of children; increased numbers of Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) entering the State. In Budget 2026, Tusla will receive an increase of €165 million bringing its funding to over €1.3 billion, with significant investment in foster care and residential care over successive budgets in the last number of years.
When residential care and foster care are unavailable, a Special Emergency Arrangement (SEA) is used to ensure an immediate place of safety. Where children are placed in SEAs, Tusla has a number of safeguards in place:
Tusla has advised that it has internal processes in place for the approval, placement and governance of Special Emergency Arrangements to mitigate risk and promote the safety and wellbeing of young people.
Tusla has developed Standard Operating Procedures for these placements, which detail extensive checks that any prospective Special Emergency Arrangements provider must adhere to, including in relation to records management and staff vetting.
Tusla has advised that all Special Emergency Arrangements providers are vetted by the Central Compliance Unit of Tusla, the unit ensures that Garda vetting and appropriate qualifications are in order before any child is placed with a prospective provider.
Tusla has created a centralised database of staff screening information related to each provider of Special Emergency Arrangements which provides assurance on the vetting, qualifications and experience of staff employed by organisations providing care on its behalf.
Young people in Special Emergency Arrangements are visited weekly by a social worker or delegated person to have their voice heard and check on the care being provided. Tusla has advised that ACIMS has met and actively engaged with current SEA providers on the process of registering their centres. Since May 2024, 18 SEA providers, encompassing 29 centres have successfully registered a centre with the ACIMS. There are 5 active applications and ACIMS anticipates some of these applications may achieve registration by year end.
The Government is committed to supporting the provision of high quality and safe services to children in care, which will help them to reach their full potential. Officials in my Department meet regularly with their counterparts in Tusla to discuss a range of issues, including availability of placements, workforce planning and interagency issues, with a view to supporting the continuous improvement of services delivered to children in care.
I will continue to engage closely with relevant stakeholders, including Tusla, to improve the delivery of high quality care to children and young people.
Child and Family Agency
Questions (543)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:543. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of unannounced inspections carried out on subcontracted private child care providers in each of the past five years, and the inspection outcomes. [64898/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
Childcare Services
Questions (544, 546)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:544. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department will take to increase transparency and oversight of private companies providing child care placements on behalf of the State. [64899/25]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:546. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any external reviews have been commissioned into the regulatory oversight of providers contracted by Tusla, and if she will publish the terms of reference and completion dates. [64927/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 546 together.
Both Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Department are committed to promoting safe and high-quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. This is achieved through the thorough application of regulations and standards that govern care placements on behalf of the State.
Tusla is the statutory regulator of both Private and Voluntary Children’s Residential Centres, and is therefore responsible for the registration and inspection of these centres in accordance with Regulations, standards, and the relevant provisions of the Child Care Act 1991.
This Act is the statutory framework for child welfare and protection in Ireland. The legislation places a statutory duty on Tusla to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. It sets the legislative provisions in relation to taking children into care, and the responsibilities of the State in that regard, which aim to improve outcomes for looked after children.
Tusla, in discharging its statutory responsibilities under the Child Care Acts, must have the best interests of the child as its paramount consideration. It actively monitors every placement of every child in care to ensure its appropriateness to the needs of that child, and any concerns or breaches of standards or Regulations are addressed in this context.
The placement of children in Residential Care is governed by the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres 2018, and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement in Residential Care) Regulation 1995, and the Child Care (Standards in Children’s Residential Centres) 1996. The placement of children in Special Care is governed by the National Standards for Special Care Units 2014, as well as the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care Units) Regulations 2017, Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care Units) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, and the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres) (Special Care Units) Regulations 2017.
HIQA carries out announced and unannounced inspections of statutory Children’s Residential Centres and Special Care units. It carries out these inspections against the identified regulations and standards. These standards and regulations set out management and monitoring of residential care services.
Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children sets out the steps which should be taken to ensure that children and young people are protected from harm. This also outlines the roles of the main statutory bodies involved in child welfare and protection: Tusla - Child and Family Agency, and An Garda Síochána.
Furthermore, the Department is working closely with Tusla to ensure the promotion of safety and quality of Special Emergency Arrangements (SEA), while the Agency seeks to reduce its reliance on these placements.
When a child is placed in an SEA, a number of safeguards are put in place. Tusla have developed Standard Operating Procedures for these placements, which detail extensive checks that any prospective SEA provider must adhere to, including in relation to records management and staff vetting. Tusla has advised that all SEA providers are vetted by the Central Compliance Unit (CCU) of Tusla, the unit ensures that Garda vetting and appropriate qualifications are in order before any child is placed with a prospective provider. The CCU also carries out spot checks to validate staff on active duty. Tusla uses Practice Assurance and Service Monitoring (PASM) reports to support the provision of high quality services for children and families. The monitoring extends across Tusla activity, including SEAs.
In accordance with the latest Standard Operating Procedure for SEAs, regular reviews are required and all efforts are made by Tusla to move children from SEAs as quickly as possible.
As part of the process of reducing reliance on SEAs, The Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS) has met with each SEA provider to support transition of these providers to registered regulated services.
I can advise that officials within this Department regularly engage with their counterparts in Tusla seeking to ensure the regulatory oversight of Tusla commissioned residential providers is of the required standard. I can further advise that this Department has not commissioned any external review of same.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to developing a national plan on Alternative Care, including a short-term plan to address ongoing issues concerning child care placements. Work is underway on the development of a National Policy Framework for Alternative Care, its scope including efforts to strengthen safeguards for children in care placements, and regulatory oversight of such placements.