Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2025
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]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial 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.
