Tusla – Child and Family Agency publishes its Annual Report 2015

Tusla – Child and Family Agency today publishes its Annual Report 2015. The report outlines Tusla’s activities in its second year of operation following its establishment on 1 January 2014 as the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children.

The report details a number of key achievements in 2015 including:

• Cases awaiting allocation to a social worker were reduced by 21% from 2014 to 2015;
• The number of high-priority cases awaiting allocation to a social worker were reduced by 65% from 2014 to 2015;
• An online Child Protection Notification System (CPNS) was developed and rolled out nationally in 2015;
• A 24-hours Emergency Out-of-Hours Service (EOHS) was established in 2015;
• The waiting list for adoption information and tracing services was reduced by 43%;
• A national governance structure and a national information system were established for children’s residential services;
• 74% increase in the number of inspections of early years services.

Speaking today at the launch of the report, Fred McBride, Tusla CEO, said “2015 was a crucial year for Tusla as we worked to develop and strengthen early intervention and prevention practices across the  agency. At a difficult time and with limited resources, Tusla made a strong start to introducing reforms, transforming services and ultimately improving outcomes for children.

“In 2015 there were 6,388 children in care and 1,835 young adults in receipt of aftercare. Tusla staff across the country worked tirelessly in 2015 with communities, families and children to ensure high-quality services and positive outcomes for Ireland’s children”, he continued.

Tusla’s Annual Report 2015 is available to download from the Tusla website, www.tusla.ie/publications.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Ruth McCourt, Communications and Press Officer, Tusla
087 634 8373 or ruth.mccourt@tusla.ie

Notes to the Editor:

Tusla’s Annual Report 2015 is available to read and download here.

About Tusla:

The Child and Family Agency was established on the 1st January 2014 and is now the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. It represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland. It is an ambitious move which brings together some 4,000 staff and an operational budget of over €600m.

The Agency operates under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, a progressive piece of legislation with children at its heart, and families viewed as the foundation of a strong healthy community where children can flourish. Partnership and co-operation in the delivery of seamless services to children and families are also central to the Act. The establishment represents an opportunity to think differently, where appropriate to behave differently and to seek a wide range of views regarding the most effective way of working together to deliver a wide range of services for children and families, an approach which is responsive, inclusive and outward looking.