The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published a report on Coovagh House Special Care Unit, which is operated by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). Special care units are secure residential designated centres for children aged 11 to 17 years. Children are placed in a special care unit by a High Court order when their behaviour poses a risk of harm to their life, health, safety, development or welfare, and the placement is needed for the child’s care and protection. 

This unannounced inspection was undertaken on 25 November 2025 to validate the information provided to the Chief Inspector in relation to the unit’s progress with implementing the compliance plan actions and assurances following an inspection in November 2024. Seven regulations were examined, two of which were compliant, three were substantially compliant and two were not compliant.

This inspection found that progress had been made in some areas, such as improved resourcing of the centre and compliance with condition of registration. There was an up-to-date statement of purpose in place, and the person in charge had given notice to the Chief Inspector regarding incidents in the centre as required by regulations. However, the registered provider did not have adequate monitoring systems in place to ensure effective governance and management of the service. For example, to ensure the to the timely implementation of actions, committed to following the previous inspection of the service, to address non-compliances with regulations.

The inspection also found that while there was adequate accommodation provided for children as outlined in the regulations, the maintenance of the building was not adequate. This impacted on the homeliness of the centre and had the potential to increase the time taken for staff to respond to incidents. The provider had taken adequate precautions against the risk of fire, but while works required for the service to come into full compliance with fire safety were underway, they had not been completed at the time of the inspection.

Tusla submitted a satisfactory compliance plan to address the regulations that were deemed substantially compliant or not compliant for the special care unit.

Notes to the Editor:

• HIQA inspects special care units against the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care Units) Regulations 2017 and the National Standards for Special Care Units, which apply to special care units in Ireland.