The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published an inspection report on a children’s residential centre operated by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) in the Dublin Mid Leinster region.

HIQA conducted an unannounced inspection of this centre on 29 April 2026 as part of a programme of inspections focusing on safeguarding. Of the eight national standards assessed, inspectors found one was substantially compliant and seven were compliant. 

This inspection found that children living in this centre experienced care and support that respected and protected their rights. Safeguarding practices were in place to identify, manage and mitigate risks, helping to ensure that children were kept safe. Children were given opportunities to be involved in decision-making about their lives, and their opinions and wishes were listened to and acted upon. Staff had a supportive and therapeutic safeguarding approach to behaviours that challenged, which balanced children’s safety and upheld their rights. There were effective leadership, governance and management arrangements in place in the centre. Staff recruitment practices were in line with legislation. Management had effective monitoring systems in place to support quality improvements and consistent approaches to safeguarding across the team. 

The residential centre was child centred and homely, and the environment promoted the safety and wellbeing of each child. In addition, the centre was clean and kept in good structural and decorative repair. Damage to the paintwork on some of the walls needed to be repaired. Record keeping for fire safety checks needed improvement, as weekly and monthly checks on fire safety equipment were not consistently recorded. 

The provider has submitted a compliance plan to address the issues identified. 

Note:

• HIQA is authorised by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality under Section 69 of the Child Care Act, 1991 as amended by Section 26 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011, to inspect children’s residential care services by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). HIQA monitors Tusla’s performance against the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres (2018) and advises the Minister and Tusla.