Tusla reports ‘unprecedented demand’ as referrals pass 100,000 for first time

Tusla, Ireland's child and family agency, has recorded over 100,000 child protection referrals for the first time, marking an unprecedented level of demand on its services. Madeleine Clarke, chairwoman of the agency, described the surge as “startling” and “distressing.” The figure of 106,444 referrals equates to one in every 23 children in the country, with emotional abuse identified as the most frequently reported concern. The increase in referrals reflects broader societal pressures, including population growth, rising living costs, housing shortages, heightened awareness of abuse indicators, and a higher number of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. Emotional abuse accounted for 45 percent of all concerns, followed by physical abuse (26 percent), neglect (16 percent), and sexual abuse (14 percent). Gardaí submitted nearly a third of all referrals, while teachers, safeguarding officers, and social workers contributed smaller shares. The report highlights that despite a 14 percent increase in funding for Tusla this year, the agency continues to struggle with staffing shortages. It notes that recruitment efforts for essential roles in social work and social care have not kept pace with the rising demand. This shortage has placed additional strain on frontline services, which have been tasked with addressing the complex needs of children and families in crisis. A total of 5,879 children were in state care by the end of last year, with 5,058 residing in foster care. The agency acknowledged an “unprecedented demand for placements,” noting that while progress has been made in expanding residential capacity, it still faces difficulties in providing immediate safe accommodations for all children requiring urgent care. As a result, the use of special emergency arrangements (SEAs), where children are temporarily housed in unregulated private facilities, has remained necessary. These SEAs, which fall outside the oversight of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), have been utilized to accommodate 185 children as of late November. The report states that such placements are only employed when all other options have been exhausted, typically following a breakdown in existing placements. Earlier this year, The Irish Times revealed that Tusla spent over €36 million on these arrangements during the first seven months of 2025. In response to these challenges, Tusla announced that most SEAs used in 2025 would now come under Hiqa’s supervision. The agency also set a limit of 45 days for the use of emergency arrangements. However, staffing issues persist, particularly within the special care units, where only 14 of 26 available beds were operational. Kate Duggan, chief executive of Tusla, characterized 2025 as a year marked by significant challenges, including tragic incidents, capacity constraints in special care services, and growing difficulties in meeting the needs of an increasing number of children. She emphasized the importance of securing adequate resources to address these pressing concerns. Ongoing discussions between the Department of Children and the Department of Public Expenditure continue regarding future funding for the agency.