Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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108. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he has taken to remove children in care in special emergency arrangements out of unsuitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19200/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Statutory responsibility for the care, welfare, and placement of children in care rests with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla, supported by my Department, is working to reduce its reliance on Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) by building capacity in its mainstream provision, and principally in residential care. In support of these goals, I have resourced Tusla to maintain and expand their services by securing additional funding in Budget 2024. I understand that this represents the single largest annual increase in core funding since Tusla’s establishment, and Tusla will receive over €1.1 billion in overall funding from my Department in 2024.

In the interim, specific measures are being taken by Tusla to promote and support the quality and safety of these placements. In relation to the suitability of accommodation, I and officials in my Department are aware of concerns around the suitability of accommodation for some children and young people residing in SEAs. Tusla’s Practice Assurance and Service Monitoring team (PASM), along Tusla's Alternative Care Inspection Monitoring Service (ACIMS), support the provision of high quality services for children and families. Tusla uses PASM and ACIMS to support its local and regional teams through a schedule of intelligence-led monitoring visits to individual private providers, including providers of SEAs.

Tusla has advised that, where any concerns arise following a visit, the Agency takes immediate and swift action to address them directly with the provider in order to come to a resolution that is in the best interest of the children and young people in care. Where issues and concerns have been identified, service improvement measures have, and continue to be, put in place. Where any safeguarding concerns are identified on a PASM monitoring visit, these are escalated to operational teams for immediate action, and identified significant risks are escalated to the relevant regional management, and/or the Agency’s Executive Management Team for follow-up as appropriate.

Tusla has, in the past year, identified private providers who have not met its standards with respect to validated staff training, qualifications, references and vetting and the Agency subsequently ceased engaging with them as providers. Where Tusla has a significant cause for concern, such as a case of suspected fraud or serious wrongdoing, Tusla will refer the case to An Garda Síochána (AGS).