Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1489. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there will be an immediate investigation into TUSLA activities following a serious incident involving a ten year-old girl in State care (details supplied); the care home that this child was being cared in; the level of funding being provided to this care home in each of the past five years; the operators of this care home; the number of children in the care home; the number of staff linked to this care home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58251/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My thoughts remain with the young girl involved in this serious incident. Tusla is liaising closely with An Garda Síochána in support of their investigation. Given the ongoing Garda investigation, it is not appropriate or possible to comment further on the specifics of the case.

I am also conscious of the impact of this event on families and young people in the community including those living in Citywest Campus. I have been in contact directly with the Tusla CEO on this matter. Tusla’s immediate focus has been and remains on the welfare and support of the young girl her family and the community. I can also advise that as a temporary community resource in the immediate aftermath of the events, Tusla and the HSE put in place additional family support and counselling services in the locality. Tusla’s onsite family support service in the Citywest Campus will continue to provide support and information to families residing in the Citywest Campus.

I have also directed the National Review Panel (NRP) to undertake a review, and to make findings and recommendations in respect of this case, as deemed appropriate. The National Review Panel is independent and has remit to review serious incidents, in particular where there is suspected or confirmed abuse of a child in care.

Further, I intend to bring forward amendments via the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025, to place the National Review Panel on a statutory footing. This will further enhance the work of the National Review Panel, as well as strengthening its independence and its ability to compel information and witnesses in respect of all reviews that it undertakes.

Our collective focus must remain on supporting Tusla to support this young girl and on the work of An Garda Síochána’s investigation.

With regard to the referenced Children’s Residential Centre, I can inform the Deputy that it is a fully staffed, registered residential placement, provided by a funded partner in the community and voluntary sector.

Due to the fact there is an ongoing garda investigation in this incident it is not possible to provide all the requested information at this time.

Please find below information in respect of the funding in regards to the referenced care home:

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1490. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to arrange for an independent review of Tusla’s structure, oversight, and funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58253/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Tulsa’s role is to support and promote the development, welfare, education, and protection of children and young people. It is an organisation that operates in a very challenging and demand led environment, providing vital services to children, young people and families during difficult times in their lives and sometimes involving very complex needs.

Tusla saw 96,666 child protection and welfare referrals in 2024: a 5% increase on 2023 (91,924) and is expecting to have in excess of 100,000 referrals this year.

Tusla activity is already subject to extensive external review in relation to service provision, by regulatory authorities including the Ombudsman, Children's Ombudsman, Comptroller and Auditor General and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the independent National Review Panel.

As a publicly funded body, Tusla’s performance, spending and reform progress are monitored by The Department of Children, Disability and Equality and this process informs regular engagement with the Tusla Board.

This Department continues to support Tusla in carrying out its functions. In successive, recent Budgets, Tusla has received significant increases in funding, bringing its total overall budget to over €1.3 billion. I am committed to ensuring the continuity of support for vulnerable children as can be witnessed in the year on year increase in the funding provided to Tusla.

I have no plans currently, to conduct an independent external review of Tusla’s structure, oversight and funding. This Department keeps the governance and funding of Tusla under ongoing review. It has established processes in place to support the governance and oversight of Tusla so that its actions are aligned with the priorities and the goals in the Department’s Statement of Strategy.

These priorities and the Department’s Statement of Strategy in turn are derived from the Programme for Government. The Programme for Government makes a range of commitments that are supportive of the work of Tusla.