Wellbeing Project
The overall aim of the Wellbeing Project is to provide an additional layer of assurance that children who had a referral closed by Tusla during COVID-19 lockdown period (1st March 2020 to 28th February 2022) are known to a State or State-funded service, where they will interact with mandated persons.
The Wellbeing Project encompasses three parts:
- Conduct the Wellbeing Check.
- Highlight the importance for anyone to report to Tusla if they have a concern for a child’s welfare or safety and reinforce the role of mandated persons in safeguarding.
- Identify ways to strengthen child protection, with actionable recommendations for systematic improvements, where appropriate, in child safeguarding processes.
What is the Wellbeing Check
The Wellbeing Check is a graduated, data-led response to confirm that children who had a referral closed during COVID-19 lockdowns are known to a State or State-funded service, where they interact with mandated persons.
In the first stage Tusla will review high level details of all children’s cases that were closed during the COVID-19 lockdown period. These details will be verified by combining key data points to check each case against the most up to date information available on official registers, in order to confirm whether a child is in attendance in school or another State-funded service.
If the child is not known to the school system, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Justice, Migration and Home Affairs, the Department of Health and others as required will assist Tusla to identify the whereabouts of these children.
Where reasonable grounds for concern arise for any child subject to the wellbeing check, in line with Children First, those children will be allocated to a dedicated team in Tusla’s Social Work service for further enquiries.
The project operates in an effective and non-intrusive way, taking into account the rights of the children and families involved in each of these cases. This data-led, proportionate approach ensures compliance with legal and privacy obligations while safeguarding children’s welfare.
The Stages of the Wellbeing Check Infographic
Scope of the Wellbeing Check
The Tusla Wellbeing Project team began its work in October 2025. An initial review was carried out by Tusla which identified 76,546 children who had referrals closed between 1st March 2020 and 28th February 2022. These referrals were closed in accordance with Tusla’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and statutory duties.
The Wellbeing Project team will undertake checks on children from these cases, who had no further engagement with Tusla after 28th February 2022.
Approximately 18,000 cases were found to be of young people who have since turned 18 years of age and Tusla cannot legally undertake a Wellbeing Check for an adult.
Mandated person
Children are safeguarded through mandated persons, such as teachers, early years professionals, healthcare staff and others. All mandated persons have a responsibility to keep children safe and to report to Tusla if they are worried about the safety or welfare of a child.
Mandated persons play an important role in spotting concerns about children and reporting them to Tusla. During the Covid‑19 lockdown period, schools, early years settings, health services and other child‑facing supports were closed or operating remotely for extended periods. Safeguarding pathways were disrupted and mandated persons had reduced opportunities to monitor the wellbeing of children.
The Wellbeing Checks give additional level of assurance that children whose referrals to Tusla were closed during COVID-19 are linked into a State or State-funded service and have ongoing contact with mandated persons who will report any concerns about a child to Tusla.
The Steering Group
The Wellbeing Project is overseen by an independent Steering Group, chaired by Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance.
The multi-agency Steering Group includes representatives from Tusla, the Department of Children, Disability & Equality, the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the HSE, the Department of Health, CSO, the Department of Social Protection, SOLAS, An Garda Síochána, the community and voluntary sector, independent social work expertise and social work professionals. All state agencies are working collaboratively and are supportive of a multiagency safeguarding approach.
How we protect your data
Tusla is committed to protecting the confidentiality and security of the personal data of our service users. We understand our responsibilities in handling personal data and operate in full compliance with our statutory obligations.
The Wellbeing Check is being undertaken in accordance with Tusla’s statutory functions set out in the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 and will process only the minimal amount of personal data necessary to carry out the objectives. In line with Irish and European data protection law, Tusla will ensure that appropriate data sharing agreements are in place with relevant government departments and state bodies for the duration of the project.
Data Protection Rights
Everyone has legal rights over their personal data. For information or to exercise any of these rights, please visit Tusla’s Data Subject Requests portal
Report a concern
Anyone with a child protection concern can contact Tusla and make a referral about a child, they do not need to be mandated. All adults who come into contact with children hold the potential of being that “first touchpoint of safety” for a child in harm’s way.
Find out more about how to report a concern about a child to Tusla
All referrals are screened and assessed in line with Children First. Anyone with an urgent concern should contact An Garda Síochána immediately.
Further information
If you require any further information you can:
email wellbeingproject@tusla.ie
visit www.tusla.ie/wellbeingproject/
Feedback
TellUs is an online portal, where service users can submit a complaint or provide feedback.