Written Answers Nos. 424-444
424. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1546 of 9 June 2026, which did not provide the information sought, the number of children who remained in a special emergency arrangement for periods exceeding three, six, and 12 months respectively, in each of the years 2022 to 2025; and if the data is not held in that form, to state same explicitly. [50654/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra425. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in a special emergency arrangement for longer than the 45-day maximum provided for in State policy; the longest single current duration; and in each such case whether the placement has been registered as a children's residential centre, has ceased operating, or has been designated to operate under Section 59(a) of the Child Care Act 1991. [50655/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra426. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in respect of special emergency arrangements operating under Section 59(a) of the Child Care Act 1991, the number currently so designated; whether the Health Information and Quality Authority has been notified of each; and the number inspected by the Authority in 2025 and to date in 2026. [50656/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra441. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 841 of 19 May 2026, the average duration of a special emergency arrangement placement for mainstream children in each year since 2022; and the number of such placements that were in unregistered settings. [50771/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 424, 425, 426 and 441 together.
I would like to thank the Deputy for this question regarding Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) for children in the care of the State.
While Tusla, supported by the Department, is working to reduce reliance on SEAs, the Agency is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children in the care of the State. This is due to a number of factors, including difficulties in recruiting staff, the complexity of the presentation of some children, and the unprecedented increase in the number of Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) requiring Tusla services.
Both Tusla and the Department share a common aim to meet the needs of all children in mainstream alternative care placements, and to reduce Tusla's operation of SEAs.
427. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1639 of 9 June 2026, whether her Department will direct Tusla to centrally record and analyse the proportion of Emergency Care Order applications that progress to Interim Care Orders, Care Orders or Supervision Orders; and the reasons this information is not currently collated, given its relevance to oversight of emergency child-protection interventions. [50657/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra428. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1640 of 9 June 2026, to confirm whether any key performance indicator, governance metric or audit measure of any kind exists in respect of the use of Emergency Care Orders under Section 13 of the Child Care Act 1991; and if none exists, whether she will direct that such oversight arrangements be put in place. [50659/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra432. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 876 of 19 May 2026, whether Tusla will commence collection of data on the number of children under one year of age subject to an emergency care order who are subsequently returned to parental care; and the timeframe for same. [50663/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra433. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 499 of 28 May 2026, whether the absence of a national guidance, benchmark or threshold framework governing emergency care order applications under section 13 of the Child Care Act 1991 has been assessed as a risk; and whether her Department intends to develop such a framework. [50664/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 427, 428, 432 and 433 together.
I would like to thank the Deputy for this question regarding urgent entry into care for children at risk in the community.
Tusla is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions under Section 8(11) of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Accordingly, the Department does not issue directions in relation to operational decision-making around applications for Emergency Care Orders under Sections 13 of the Child Care Act 1991.
Tusla is engaged in a digital transformation and data management strategy. This strategy is delivering a joined up digital and data environment that provides modern, secure, integrated systems to support the delivery of all Tusla services and improve data insights and metric development.
Further detailed information in relation to care orders is available through Tusla’s annual Review of Adequacy report, available on the Tusla website: www.tusla.ie/publications/review-of-adequacy-reports/. Tusla also publishes data through its Data Hub, available online at: [www.data.tusla.ie/].
434. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 497 of 28 May 2026, whether Tusla will commence collation of the number of children taken to safety under section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991, broken down by Tusla area; and whether her Department will engage with An Garda Síochána to ensure these removals are centrally recorded. [50665/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for this question regarding urgent removal to safety for children at risk in the community.
Urgent removals to safety under Section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 are undertaken by An Garda Síochána. Accordingly, questions on operational matters relating to Section 12 may be more appropriate for the Minister for Justice. Tusla works closely with An Garda Síochána in relation to urgent removals under Section 12. Tusla is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions under Section 8(11) of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality does not issue directions in relation to operational decision-making, including data collection, under Section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991. Such decisions are a matter for Tusla, in accordance with the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991, relevant case law, and Tusla’s own policies and professional practice guidance, including Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children.
Tusla is engaged in a digital transformation and data management strategy. This strategy is delivering a joined up digital and data environment that provides modern, secure, integrated systems to support the delivery of all Tusla services and improve data insights and metric development.
435. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 314 of 15 April 2026, to commission an independent, externally conducted value-for-money review of expenditure on private residential childcare placements; and if not, the reason. [50666/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you deputy for your question.
As part of any procurement or contracting process for care services, Tusla seeks to ensure that the quality and safety of any services are to the fore to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children and young people. As part of the contracting and tendering process, value for money is also considered to ensure the best use of public money in the provision of services on behalf of the State. As value-for-money assessments are primarily built into the tendering process, they are not routinely published in a stand-alone format. Any subsequent rates set by Tusla are published or made available as part of the tendering or contracting process.
The Department is aware that Tusla follows procurement rules and its decisions are subject to internal and external controls and as such the Department has no immediate plans to commission an external review at this time.
I should add that decisions relating to the external audit of Tusla are for the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
439. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 492 of 28 May 2026, whether she will commit to establishing a longitudinal outcome tracker for care-experienced young adults covering housing, education, employment, mental health and addiction; and the expected publication date of outputs from the Care Experiences Programme. [50670/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2022 the Department launched a research and data programme, Care Experiences: Journeys Through the Irish Care System, which is being run in close collaboration with the Child and Family Agency, Tusla.
The Care Experiences Programme comprises a combination of primary research and administrative data analysis to examine and better understand the lives of children and young people in care and aftercare and adults who were in care as children.
As part of the Programme the Department has commissioned two studies which specifically look at the experiences and outcomes of those who have left the care system. One study has undertaken research with care leavers and stakeholders to explore the educational and career journeys of young care leavers. A second study is looking at the experiences and outcomes of adults who left the care system ten to fifteen years ago. Reports from these studies will be finalised and published shortly.
The Care Experiences Programme also involves the establishment of a national longitudinal study following young people as they transition out of care and into adulthood. Planning is underway for the study.
In addition to the Care Experiences Programme, the Department works with the Central Statistics Office, Tusla, and other relevant Departments on the Educational Attendance, Attainment and Other Outcomes of Children in Care Frontier Series. This Frontiers Series provides insights in relation to outcomes of children in care and children who left care since April 2018 and compares them with all children and young people in the same age group by analysing school, further and higher education, and employment outcomes for both groups. The 2025 release is based on administrative data provided to the CSO from Tusla, the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Social Protection, SOLAS, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, the Higher Education Authority, POBAL, the State Examinations Commission, Student Universal Support Ireland and the Revenue Commissioners.
440. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to Parliamentary Question No 488 of 28 May 2026, whether Tusla will commence central collation of the number of young people whose aftercare supports cease at 21 years-of-age and the number who subsequently re-engage with services. [50671/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for this question regarding provision of services for young people who have left care.
Statutory responsibility for the provision of aftercare rests in the first instance with Tusla, as set out in the Child Care Act 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Tusla is independent in the performance of its duties and may exercise discretion in carrying out its statutory functions. Tusla has advised that the effectiveness of aftercare supports is evaluated primarily at an individual level, namely the assessment of need, the preparation and implementation of an aftercare plan, and the ongoing review and updating of the plan where needs change or where the plan is not meeting identified need.
Tusla is engaged in a digital transformation and data management strategy. This strategy is delivering a joined up digital and data environment that provides modern, secure, integrated systems to support the delivery of all Tusla services and improve data insights and metric development.
Officials from the Department are currently progressing the development of a National Policy Framework for Alternative Care. The Framework will aim to articulate a future and Whole of Government vision of alternative care in Ireland, including consideration of eligibility for aftercare, and will also deliver on a Programme for Government commitment in this regard.
442. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to issue a public apology (details supplied) [50553/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the previous Chief Executive of the HSE, Bernard Gloster, unequivocally apologised after reviews into CAMHS in north and south Kerry identified harm and risks of potential for harm in how young people were treated.
The Maskey Report published in 2022, examined deficits in relation to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in South Kerry. The review identified that 240 young people did not receive the standard of care they should have from CAMHS. The HSE issued a public apology at that time and offered meetings to all affected in South Kerry. The Government also introduced a non-adversarial route for children and their families to seek compensation for the shortfall in care received.
I initiated the North Kerry Lookback Review following the publication of the Maskey Report in 2022 in relation to CAMHS in South Kerry. The HSE published this latest Lookback Review on 18 February 2026. Again, the HSE issued a public apology to the young people and their families affected in North Kerry, including in letters to impacted families.
My priority since I initiated the North Kerry Lookback Review has been the best interests of the children, young people and their families and to have this report published as quickly as possible. Throughout the Lookback process all young people and families have had access to on-going support, including the open disclosure helpline and a Clinical Liaison Support Team.
During the review, any young person whose file showed major or moderate potential for harm in the care provided to them was invited to an individual Open Disclosure meeting. These meetings offered families an opportunity to hear the findings of the review of their file and to give feedback on their experience of the service and to receive an apology directly from the HSE for the deficits in care.
As I have indicated on several occasions since the publication, I was seriously concerned with the findings of this report. However, I am satisfied that HSE South West has taken the necessary steps to address the deficits in care experienced by children and young people as highlighted in this report and in the Maskey review.
On 26 March last, I approved a scheme to provide compensation to children and young people in North Kerry who were identified as having suffered harm in the Review. Importantly, in extending the existing South Kerry compensation scheme, I also ensured that it covers any young person who may become eligible as the HSE undertakes a further file review. I wanted to guarantee that if a young person is identified as having suffered harm through the review of their file, they can apply to the scheme immediately
Given that there is now increased governance, regular care and prescribing audits, standardised practice and a dedicated workforce, I am assured that the service now is significantly improved and that the necessary safeguards have been put in place to ensure that similar risks do not happen again.
I visited Kerry on 19 and 20 February last to meet young people, families and mental health services staff, followed by national and local media, to ensure meaningful engagement, visibility and reassurance. I visited Kerry again on 9 April to meet with more families who had been in contact with my Office since the Report was published. As I said at that time, I was heartbroken for the affected families and was seriously concerned with the findings of this report. I indicated also to the families that HSE South West has addressed the deficits in care identified and will continue with all aspects of service improvement.
I will continue to work closely with the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health National Office to drive reform of CAMHS nationally to ensure that this key specialist service which benefits so many young people and their families each year is safe, accessible, child-centered, and delivered to the highest of standards. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that An Taoiseach has agreed to meet with patient representatives in relation to Kerry CAMHS in the near future, and I will liaise with An Taoiseach to finalise the details around this.
443. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all reviews, audits, and reports commissioned or conducted in relation to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) over the past 10 years; and to furnish copies of each named review to the Oireachtas. [50331/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra444. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether all reports and internal reviews relating to patient safety, waiting lists, and governance at CHI have been shared with affected families; and if not, to provide a timeline for their full publication and to furnish copies of each such review. [50332/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra447. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to detail all governance reviews concerning CHI, the HSE, and her Department in relation to oversight failures; and to furnish copies of each such report. [50335/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 443, 444 and 447 together.
I acknowledge the challenges families have faced regarding paediatric services. There have been a number of reviews recently focused on the paediatric services in Children’s Health Ireland.
The following reports and reviews have been published and are available online: Irish Paediatric Critical Care Audit (2023); Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street Spinal Surgery Programme for Patients with Spina Bifida (2023); Review on the implementation of Scoliosis and Spina Bifida Action Plans 2022 - 2023 (2024); HIQA Review on governance of implantable medical devices at CHI, including use of non-CE marked springs in surgery at CHI at Temple Street (2025); Independent Audit on Hip Surgery Thresholds for Children with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (2025); and the Audit of governance and equity in patient access and waiting list management at CHI (2026).
Summary of findings, recommendations and updates regarding the examination of a particular clinical department in Children’s Health Ireland (2022) is also available online.
The Dickson Report (2017) is not published. Children’s Health Ireland has advised that the families involved were informed at the time of the report, and Children’s Health Ireland has since further communicated with the families in relation to this report.
The Nayagam review is ongoing. Phase 2 of the Nayagam review continues and, as per the terms of reference, the final report will be submitted to the review’s Commissioner (the HSE CCO) at the conclusion of the Independent Review and published thereafter.
The HSE CEO has established the National Oversight Improvement Steering Group for CHI to co-ordinate oversight of the range of matters of focus in CHI, including the implementation of recommendations from completed reviews and upcoming reports. This group meets on a monthly basis and more often as required.
As Minister for Health I remain committed to the improvement of services for children and young people.
