Tusla hires security guards due to staffing shortages at centre for very vulnerable children

The situation at Crannóg Nua, a special care unit for the State's most vulnerable children, has reached a crisis point, forcing the child and family agency, Tusla, to hire security guards. This drastic measure, taken due to critically low staffing levels exacerbated by an 'unexpected rise in sick leave,' highlights a systemic failure in child protection services.

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close protection personnel ... as an added safeguard

These special care units are intended for children aged 11 to 17 who are severely emotionally disturbed and pose a risk to themselves or others. With a national capacity for 26 children, only 15 beds are currently operational due to persistent staffing issues. The deployment of 'close protection personnel' as an 'added safeguard' is a stark indicator of how far below the required 7:1 staffing ratio the unit has fallen, prompting experienced professionals to declare they have 'never seen things as bad as this.'

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The State’s three special care units have a capacity for 26 children, but just 15 beds are open due to staffing challenges.

The significant expenditure on security guards – over €5.4 million since January 2024 – raises serious questions about the agency's priorities and its ability to provide trauma-informed care. Staff are rightly concerned that these security guards lack the necessary training to deal with children who are already carrying immense trauma. This situation is not merely a staffing shortage; it is a sign that the system is 'disintegrating,' leaving the most vulnerable children in an environment that may be causing further harm.

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I have never seen things as bad as this.