Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am advised by Tusla that its procedures ensure Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) are only utilised where no alternative placement is available and that children are moved on from SEAs as soon as a suitable mainstream placement becomes available. However, Tusla has also indicated that it is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children.

I and my Department are aware of these challenges, and those outlined in the article, and are committed to continuing to provide whatever support to Tusla is necessary to address these challenges. Both Tusla and I share a common aim to meet the needs of all children in mainstream alternative care placements, to reduce reliance on SEAs and to minimise the length of time spent by any individual child in an SEA.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Tusla provides regular data to my Department on its operation of Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs), which includes the age range of the children currently in those placements. This data indicates that, as of the week ending 31st March 2024, there were four children under the age of 12 placed in SEAs, out of a total number of 172 SEAs.

Both Tusla and I are concerned about that Agency’s reliance on SEAs, and share a common aim to meet the needs of these children in mainstream alternative care placements. I am advised by Tusla that its procedures ensure SEAs are only utilised where no alternative placement is available.

except in exceptional circumstances. Unfortunately, this can occur in circumstances where a child requires a place of immediate safety including as a result of a placement breakdown, and where no mainstream alternative care placement is available for the child in the short term, either alone or with their sibling group.

Every effort is being made by Tusla, supported by my Department, to increase capacity in mainstream alternative care. In the interim, specific measures are being taken by Tusla to promote and support the quality and safety of these placements.

I note that the Deputy has referred to a derogation in relation to SEAs, and in this regard the Deputy has referenced to derogations in relation to residential care. I am informed that neither the Child Care Act 1991, nor the Child Care (Placement of Children in Residential Care) Regulations (1995) and the Child Care (Standards in Children's Residential Centres) Regulations (1996) specify an age range for children in relation to their placement by Tusla in residential care. However, it is my understanding that In general, Tusla endeavour to place children under 12 in foster care.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The care and welfare of children in care is a priority for Government, and I share the Deputy's concerns that all children in Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) should be safeguarded to the greatest possible extent.

Ideally all children in SEAs would have an allocated social worker, where this is required by applicable regulations and standards and is indicated by the presentation of the child and the relevant risk factors. However, the Deputy will be aware that Tusla is currently experiencing very significant difficulties in recruiting and retaining social workers.

Accordingly, while the vast majority of children from the community in SEAs have an allocated social worker, for those Separated Children Seeking International Protection who are in SEAs and don’t have an allocated social worker, Tusla have put other safeguarding measures in place. In this regard, I am informed all young people have a point of contact from the SCSIP team’s Active On Duty service, some have an assigned worker, and all have an absence management plan.

I am also informed that the Active On Duty (AOD) team checks in with young people by telephone on a weekly basis and there are daily calls between the Compliance and Legal Manager and the Active on Duty Principal Social Worker to alert each other to any complaints or issues of concern arising.

The SCSIP service has secured 50 Youth Advocate Programmes (YAP) integration support packages for 50 of the young people with the highest need both SCSIP and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs). The SCSIP service continue with their HR strategy to recruit staff to meet increases in demand and now include Family Support Practitioner recruitment for support roles with children in Section 5.

A Standard Operating Procedure specifically related to SEAs for SCSIP is currently being finalised and will help to ensure a standardised approach to the response from SCSIP to this cohort of young people in providing care and continuous safeguarding.

Tusla, supported by my Department, are working to reduce reliance on SEAs. I have resourced Tusla to maintain and expand their services by securing additional funding as part of Budget 2024. In addition, regarding efforts to maintain the number of foster carers, I was very pleased to secure a significant increase in the rates of the Foster Care Allowance in Budget 2024. In the interim, specific measures are being taken by Tusla to promote and support the quality and safety of these placements.