Forged references provided for staff at unregulated children’s care homes are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential harm of Special Emergency Arrangements, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly.
Deputy Farrelly said:
“It’s time to call a halt on these shambolic, unregulated and frankly dangerous substitutes for State care.
“There is now more than enough evidence to call for the complete suspension of all Special Emergency Arrangement contracts, and that Tusla, as a matter of priority, provides regulated care by professionally qualified people immediately.
“The Minister for Children is presiding over a generational abdication of duty, putting dozens of children at risk.
“It is not TUSLA staff who work in SEAs, and HIQA are not entitled to inspect them. We have a scenario in which these placements are being operated by companies instead of state bodies, and no one can independently ascertain the quality of the services being provided.
“Several judges who are tasked with agreeing arrangements for unaccompanied children and young people have said that the system of Special Emergency Arrangements are unsafe – it’s time we listen to the experts and put an end to this scheme.
“15 companies shared €56 million in profits from operating Special Emergency Arrangement premises in 2024. Not only are children receiving substandard care in these arrangements, placing them in harm’s way, but the State is paying for that harm.
“In October, I wrote to the chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality to convene a meeting specifically about Special Emergency Arrangements after the tragic death of Vadym Davydenko in an SEA, and to include an invitation to TUSLA.
“The Minister for Children and Tusla’s leadership have not provided straight answers to outstanding questions surrounding the qualifications of staff at these sites, the types of care and activities provided for children and young people, the initiatives in place for when trauma manifests itself through violence or other harmful behaviour, the duration of stay for residents, and, ultimately, the rationale for outsourcing this type of provision to third-party contractors.
“We cannot continue to put children at risk; these questions must be answered. I am calling on Tusla to suspend all Special Emergency Arrangement contracts before another child gets hurt.”
April 22nd, 2026