Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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981. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to address the issue where vulnerable children are left at risk as the courts are repeatedly told that there are no available placements in either foster care or residential care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2913/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Tusla is working to reduce reliance on Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs). Tusla is also working to reduce the cost and promote the quality and safety of these placements. My Department is supporting Tusla in these efforts. In the interim, specific measures have and are being taken by Tusla to promote and support the quality and safety of these placements.

Where children are placed in an SEA, there are a number of safeguards in place:

• Tusla have developed Standard Operating Procedures for these placements, which detail extensive checks that any prospective SEA provider must adhere to, including in relation to records management and staff vetting.
• I am informed that all SEA providers are vetted by the Central Compliance Unit (CCU) of Tusla, the unit ensures that Garda vetting and appropriate qualifications are in order before any child is placed with a prospective provider. The CCU also carries out spot checks to validate staff on active duty.
• Tusla uses Practice Assurance and Service Monitoring (PASM) reports to support the provision of high-quality services for children and families. The monitoring extends across Tusla activity, including SEAs.
• All SEA providers met with Tusla representatives in September 2024 to receive feedback on the quality of service they provide. These meetings focused on where good care practices were in place and discussed areas for improvement. During these meetings, the Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS) also met with each SEA provider to support moves to registered regulated services. I am informed that Tusla is working with providers of SEAs to progress their services towards becoming fully compliant with regulations.
• Through contracts between Tusla and commissioned services, compliance with Garda vetting and child safeguarding statements is reviewed and monitored by Tusla on an ongoing basis.
• Young people in special emergency arrangements are visited weekly by a social worker or delegated person to have their voice heard and check on the care being provided.
• In accordance with the latest Standard Operating Procedure for SEAs, regular reviews are required, and a child may only be placed in an SEA if it is judged to be the most suitable placement available at the time. All efforts are made by Tusla to move children from SEAs to a suitable mainstream alternative care placement as quickly as possible.
• Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children sets out the steps which should be taken to ensure that children and young people are protected from harm. This also outlines the roles of the main statutory bodies involved in child welfare and protection: Tusla - Child and Family Agency, and An Garda Síochána.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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982. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken to reduce the reliance by Tusla on special emergency arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2914/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Tusla has indicated that it is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children in the care of the State.

A number of actions are being undertaken to improve the availability of suitable alternative care placements for children in care. These include:

• The Department has overseen a significant increase in investment in foster care supports, including in relation to the foster care allowance, which was increased to €400 per week for children aged under 12, and €425 per week for those over 12 in 2024. These increases mean that foster carers received over €1,700 additional funding per child over the course of 2024. In 2025, this means that foster carers will receive an additional €3,900 in allowances.
• Budget 2025 sets out further investment and support towards children in foster care, including funding which will be used to provide a bonus payment at the start of each initial foster care placement from 2025. There is provision for additional mileage support for foster carers who have significant travel responsibilities for children in their care.
• In addition, the 2025 Programme for Government includes commitments in respect of examining pension provision for foster carers and examining the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility criteria to allow flexibility for foster carers.
• An increase of €145 million was secured in Budget 2025, representing a 14% increase in Tusla’s total budget. This brings Tusla’s total funding to over €1.2 billion for 2025. This increase includes an additional €21m in 2025 in relation to residential care.
• The Department of Children will continue to prioritise residential care in the ongoing capital investment funding engagements with the Department of Public Expenditure, in the next iteration of the National Development Plan.
• Tusla’s Strategic Plan on Residential Care outlines plans for increased residential care capacity over the 2022-2025 period. Tusla has established a property sub-group to support accessing suitable properties for contracted providers in the community, voluntary and private sectors to ensure value for money and safe and appropriate accommodation.