Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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771. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the outcome of Tusla’s recent overseas recruitment campaign for special care staff; the total cost of this initiative, including accommodation and relocation supports; whether it has delivered measurable improvements in staffing levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54707/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Child and Family Agency (Tusla) has statutory responsibility for the operation of Special Care in Ireland, and for the provision of Special Care beds. The total combined capacity of Special Care Units across 3 Special Care Centres is 26 beds. The current capacity is currently for 15 children due primarily to challenges recruiting and retaining social care workers.

Tusla continues to prioritise recruitment initiatives for Special Care with a dedicated recruitment team carrying out a number of targeted campaigns and through a variety of media outlets, including recruiting internationally.

Tusla advise that as a result of their overseas recruitment campaign, there are currently an additional 9 Social Care Workers (SCWs) across two Special Care Units with an additional 4 SCWs due to begin work in the coming weeks. A further 6 SCW’s are going through the recruitment compliance process. Tusla have advised that the total paid year to date for this initiative has been €337,650.

Officials from my Department also support the ongoing work by Tusla to develop and introduce a Social Care Worker apprenticeship scheme. The scheme is currently being formulated in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Tusla and the Higher Education Institutes and will serve as a further pipeline of recruitment into social care settings, including Special Care.

Tusla has implemented several measures to address the ongoing challenges, including the establishment of a dedicated retention team to lead on key initiatives, the launch of rolling recruitment campaigns, the introduction of a new grade within the service, the provision of psychological supports to staff and the introduction of various well-being initiatives.

Officials from my Department will continue to provide support to Tusla as necessary to address the current significant challenges facing this service.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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776. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of an application with Tusla to open a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54834/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.