Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
762. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what governance framework is in place within her Department to oversee expenditure by Tusla on private childcare placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32436/26]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question.
Tusla is committed to being a transparent and accountable organisation, with performance monitoring and management arrangements in place to focus on driving operational performance improvements.
Section 21 (2) of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 provide, inter alia, that the Board of Tusla is responsible for promoting high standards of corporate governance and the integrity of the Agency's accounting and reporting systems. This extends to the oversight of its procurement processes. It is also worth noting that Tusla is subject to annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
The Department’s oversight of Tusla extends to the control environment Tusla has in place including the work of Tusla's Audit and Risk committee which, in turn, is responsible for the oversight of the identification and management of risks in the organisation.
Tusla must comply with public procurements rules in its engagement of private residential care providers.
Tusla is continuously striving to improve in respect of its procurement and funding reporting requirements. In the 2024 Annual Report & Financial Statements addition appendix were included to detail amount spent by individual provider.
The appendix referenced can be found at the following link:
www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/Tusla%20Annual%20Report%202024.pdf
Tusla Annual Report 2024.pdf
Appendix 1 Independent Placement Provision Summary by Region pg 198
Appendix 2 Summary of Independent Placement Provision by Providers pg 199
Under the provisions of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla is independent in the performance of its functions. The Department does not direct the day to day operations of Tusla. In keeping with the provisions of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, the Department’s governance of Tusla is captured within its Oversight Agreement.
The Oversight Agreement includes references to
• the reporting arrangements between the Department and Tusla,
• the roles and responsibilities of key parties including the role of the Board of Tusla, its Audit and Risk Committee, its Chief Executive Officer and Executive Management team,
• how Tusla's annual business plan and longer term strategy are aligned with the priorities of the Minister and of the Government
• the monitoring arrangements including the formal engagements and different meetings between senior Departmental Official and staff in Tusla to ensure that its actions are properly aligned.
While the Oversight Agreement does not place an obligation on Tusla to provide statistical data of a specific or general nature on applications for emergency care orders under section 13 of the Child Care Act 1991, its management of children subject to care orders is the subject of regular engagement between with the Department.
The Performance Framework is also a key part of the accountability and oversight structure between the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and Tusla. It provides direction for the work of Tusla for a period of 3 years outlining both the principles and priorities that will structure the development of Tusla's Corporate Plan and its consequent implementation.
