TUSLA has been told on countless occasions that Special Emergency Arrangements for unaccompanied children are inappropriate and present serious risks, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly.
Deputy Farrelly said:
“My thoughts are with the family of Vadym Davydenko, the Ukrainian teenager who died tragically in Donaghmede on Wednesday. A Garda investigation is now underway and I will not be making any comment on that.
“However, there is a broader issue here which deserves scrutiny. It has been reported that 15 companies shared €56 million in profits from operating Special Emergency Arrangement premises last year.
“It is not TUSLA staff who work in these services, 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.
“Children and young people who are unaccompanied when they arrive in Ireland are some of the most vulnerable persons in the country, and we must ensure all care is safe and appropriate.
“With this in mind, I have written to the chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality to convene a meeting specifically about Special Emergency Arrangements, and to include an invitation to TUSLA.
“There are 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.
“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 is critical that TUSLA takes the opportunity to meet with the Joint Committee on Children and is fully open to dialogue on reform of its provision of services.”
October 17th, 2025