Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
533. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department is formally notified when Tusla records governance or safeguarding concerns relating to privately operated residential centres; if so, the mechanism and timeframe for such notification; and what policy review, contractual oversight, or funding control measures are triggered at Departmental level following receipt of such notification [13746/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra534. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department maintains a centralised register or consolidated database of governance, safeguarding, compliance or regulatory concerns relating to private companies delivering care services funded in whole or in part by the State; if not, whether she will establish such a register in the interests of transparency, public accountability, and value-for-money oversight [13747/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra535. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total annual Exchequer funding paid to privately operated children’s residential centres in each year since 2020; and whether she has conducted or commissioned any risk assessment examining whether the scale of private provision presents governance, safeguarding, or systemic oversight risks [13748/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 533 to 535, inclusive, together.
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.
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, 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.
Tusla procures non-statutory Children's Residential Centres in compliance with relevant legislation, procurement rules, and government Circulars in relation to grant funding. I can advise the Deputy that this Department does not directly monitor companies contracted by Tusla to provide placements for children in care. However, the DCDE does have regular engagement with Tusla at all levels to address issues related to the provision of services.
Additionally, Section 41 of the Child and Family Act, 2013 stipulates that the Minister will provide guidance to Tusla in the form of the Performance Framework, which is published every three years. The Performance Framework is an opportunity to provide the Agency with policy guidance, direction and prioritisation parameters for the preparation of its corporate plan. The current Framework includes priority 4.3.a, which urges Tusla to increase its residential care capacity while reducing reliance on private provision.
In 2020 the Department of Expenditure and Reform completed a Spending Review of the cost of Residential Care. The review identified a number of cost drivers in relation to this area, and the benefits and potential risks associated with various forms of service provision. The Department is currently developing a National Policy Framework for Alternative Care, which will deliver on a Programme for Government Commitment to develop a national plan on alternative care to include a short-term action plan addressing current issues in accessing appropriate care places, and a longer term vision for how the care system will operate into the future.
I can advise the Deputy 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.
