Tusla statement on the findings of the HIQA Assurance Programme report

Commenting on the findings of the HIQA Assurance Programme report of child protection and welfare services provided to children living in direct provision Gordon Jeyes, Chief Executive of Tusla says: “Tusla accepts that there are specific areas detailed in the report which require improvement. Tusla has previously identified significant challenges in Louth/ Meath and Laois/Offaly.

“Tusla’s Chief Operations Officer is now directly overseeing a rapid improvement programme in both areas. This will involve deploying temporary additional management and practice capacity to deal with any backlog of referrals and to ensure that new referrals are dealt with in an appropriate, proportionate and timely manner.”

In focusing on Tusla’s response to referrals the report finds that the majority of social work teams demonstrated excellent examples of timely responses and interventions. Social workers engaged positively with parents and involved families in early intervention strategies and linked into family supports. Children were listened to carefully about their lives.

It also highlights good quality inter-agency cooperation in all of the areas and good leadership in the delivery of services at local level in some areas.

Gordon Jeyes added, “Tusla staff must be given credit for their ongoing work with children and families in direct provision particularly given the challenging environment which was not designed for children to live in long term. Tusla has been engaging with RIA in relation to the findings of this report and are committed to working together to improve child protection and welfare services for all children in direct provision.

“An Action Plan has been prepared and will be submitted to HIQA in response to the Report in the coming days.”

ENDS

Contact Aoife Greene/Sharon Waters 087 6348373