Health Watchdog Calls For Improved Child Services In West Wicklow

The health and social care watchdog has released two separate reports into child protection services provided by Tusla.

The reports looked into the agency's child protection and welfare service in the Dublin South West, Kildare and West Wicklow area, as well as its service which supports unaccompanied child refugees.

The first HIQA report found improvements are needed to Tusla's child protection and welfare service in the Dublin South West, Kildare and West Wicklow area.

Inspectors reported long waiting times for preliminary enquiries and initial assessments for children and families.

Overall, the report found the quality and safety of the service needed significant improvements to meet the needs of all children and their families who need to access the service.

Meanwhile, a separate report by HIQA inspectors, found better levels of governance and resourcing are needed for Tusla's service which supports unaccompanied child refugees.

An inspection was carried out over three-days at the Separated Children Seeking International Protection service at the end of February and beginning of March this year.

The report found resources were not being used effectively, despite increasing demands due to the substantial increase in unaccompanied children arriving in Ireland from a range of countries.

Other areas of the service which fell short of standards included the management of referrals, such as the lack of prioritisation; children's privacy, dignity and confidentiality being compromised due to the condition of the premises and timely access to support services.