Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
269. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who are currently the subject of a High Court order placing them in special care in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991, who are not in special care due to the absence of an available bed; whether private agency staff can be utilised to staff the beds that are not currently open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9823/24]
View answerI am advised by Tusla that, at this time, there are 10 young people who are currently the subject of a Special Care Order, in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991, who are not in Special Care owing to the absence of an available bed in a Special Care Unit.
I am well aware of the challenges in special care, and I understand that the primary limiting factor in relation the availability of special care beds, is the availability of adequate numbers of staff in Special Care Units. I share the Deputy’s concern that children in the care of the State, of whom those requiring special care are perhaps the most vulnerable, should have access to a special care place when they need it.
I am informed that the Tusla Director of Services and Integration continues to engage with Regional Chief Officers to ensure all possible mitigations are in place to manage the risks to the safety and welfare of young people who are awaiting a Special Care bed.
Tusla has statutory responsibility for the operation of special care in Ireland. Every effort is being made by Tusla to support provision of appropriate care, including special care where appropriate, to vulnerable children, but Tusla are experiencing significant challenges in relation to the recruitment and retention of specialised staff in special care. Tusla are currently progressing a number of initiatives in an effort to address this challenge.
In this regard, Tusla have advised that there is a tailored process for recruitment within Special Care with a dedicated recruitment team responsible for bespoke and rolling recruitment campaigns for Special Care live on the Tusla website, ongoing engagement with three recruitment agencies to specifically recruit for special care services and a graduate recruitment program to attract Social Care Workers to the service.
Tusla has also made extensive efforts to address the challenge of staff retention. I am informed that a Violence Harassment and Aggression working group was established in 2023 and is chaired by the National Health and Safety Manager and includes Senior Manager representatives from all Special Care Services and Children Residential Services, Employee Assistance Programme and the Health and Safety division. This group has identified several initiatives that have been implemented in 2024.
I am also informed by Tusla that private Agency staff are used in Special Care services where available. At the present time there are insufficient Agency staff available to enable additional beds to be opened. Two companies are engaged to source permanent staff; and three further Agency providers are engaged to meet temporary gaps in the staffing roster.
