The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published an inspection report of the child protection and welfare service provided by the National Out of Hours Service operated by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). The National Out of Hours Service provides an emergency child protection and welfare service when Tusla’s local network child protection and welfare services are closed at evenings, overnight and weekends.

HIQA inspected the service between 24 March and 2 April 2026. Of the nine national standards assessed, HIQA found that the service was not compliant with six standards and substantially compliant with three standards. 

The service did not have clearly defined national governance and management structures in place, did not have a clear purpose and function and the required improvements to the service’s risk escalation procedure remained outstanding since the previous inspection of the service. In addition, risks relating to poor governance systems, also identified during the previous inspection, had not been fully addressed at the time of this inspection.

Staff working in the service were committed to keeping children safe and inspectors saw examples of good quality out of hours safeguarding work with children. In the 12 months prior to this inspection, the service had taken positive action relating to the screening of referrals, communication with children, establishment of a system for auditing casework on referrals and the recognition and escalation of risk. 

HIQA found that not all children received an equal service. Out of hours social work services for children living outside of the geographic remit of the service’s social work team (Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow), was provided by on-call social workers. Children supported by on-call social workers faced delays in receiving a service and had limited in-person contact with a social worker. The service was not adequately resourced with sufficient emergency care placements for children, and it continued to routinely place children in inappropriate, unregulated care arrangements with agency staff overnight. The system in place for ensuring timely safeguarding checks of agency staff out of hours required improvement. 

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.