The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published an inspection report on the child protection and welfare service operated by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) in the North Dublin network. 

HIQA inspected the service between 20 and 23 April 2026. Of the four national standards assessed, HIQA found one standard was substantially compliant and three standards were not compliant. The inspection focused on the service’s capacity to meet demand, safeguard children and effectively respond to referrals indicating risks to children in the North Dublin area.

The inspection found that the service was not adequately resourced to ensure the effective management of referrals. However, the service had effective systems and processes in place to ensure that children who were at immediate risk, received a timely and effective response in most cases. The service management team deployed and utilised the available staff creatively to protect children and promote their welfare. Where cases were allocated to workers, inspectors saw evidence of child-centred work carried out by a skilled and dedicated staff team. In addition, the management of the service both at network and regional level had identified that they had inadequate staffing resources before the inspection. They had escalated the staffing deficits to the senior management and requested additional resources, which were approved shortly after the inspection. 

Due to the inadequate staffing resources, the service area was unable to fulfil its statutory obligations to deliver timely and consistent services to all children in accordance with relevant legislation, national policies, standards and Tusla’s standard business process. Actions identified as required to ensure the safety and welfare of children awaiting allocation were delayed, and monitoring of safety plans for cases on waiting lists was not sufficient in all cases. Improvements were required in the notification of child abuse to An Garda Síochána to ensure all required notifications were completed in a timely manner.

Systems in place to review and assess the effectiveness and safety of the service were inadequate. Resources assigned for the oversight and monitoring of unallocated cases were insufficient and systems in place did not ensure that timely and effective action was taken to protect children while they awaited allocation. Six cases were escalated following the inspection for assurances of appropriate safeguarding of the children concerned. Satisfactory responses were received.

Following the inspection, management submitted a satisfactory compliance plan to HIQA, which outlined plans to address the issues identified during the inspection. 

Notes: 

• HIQA is authorised by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality under Section 8(1) (c) of the Health Act 2007 to monitor the quality of services provided by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) to protect children and promote their welfare. HIQA monitors Tusla’s performance against the National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2012) and advises the Minister and Tusla.