Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD has highlighted figures provided by Tusla in response to a Parliamentary Question which show that 5,319 child protection and welfare cases were awaiting allocation at the end of 2025.
The figures reveal that the number of unallocated cases has increased significantly over recent years. Tusla recorded 3,840 unallocated cases at the end of 2020, rising to 5,319 by the end of 2025, an increase of 1,479 cases, or 38.5%.
At the end of 2025, Tusla had 17,883 cases open to social work services, of which 12,564 were allocated and 5,319 remained awaiting allocation. This means that almost one in three (29.7%) open child protection and welfare cases had no allocated worker.
The regional breakdown highlights significant disparities across the country. Dublin Mid-Leinster recorded 2,567 unallocated cases, accounting for almost half of the national total, while the South West recorded 1,064 unallocated cases. Dublin North East had 545, the South East 340, the Midwest 90 and the West North West 163.
The figures come against a backdrop of increasing demand on services. Tusla received 106,444 referrals during 2025, an increase of 10% on 2024 and 53% higher than 2020.
The Deputy said “These figures raise serious questions about the capacity of our child protection system. At the end of 2025, 5,319 child protection and welfare cases were awaiting allocation. That means almost one in every three open cases did not have a dedicated worker assigned to it. While every case is assessed and managed according to risk, the reality is that thousands of children and families were waiting to be allocated a professional to lead and progress their case.”
“What is particularly concerning is the direction of travel. The number of unallocated cases has increased by 38.5% since 2020, yet demand continues to rise at an even faster pace. Tusla received over 106,000 referrals last year alone, a 53% increase on 2020. These figures point to a system that is under enormous pressure.”
“The regional figures are stark. Dublin Mid-Leinster alone accounted for 2,567 unallocated cases, while the South West had more than 1,000. This indicates that the pressures are not confined to one area but are being felt right across the State.”
“Child protection services exist to protect vulnerable children at the earliest possible stage. When almost 30% of open cases are awaiting allocation, it is clear that the system is struggling to keep up with demand. Government must now explain what steps it will take to reduce these backlogs, strengthen frontline staffing and ensure that every child and family who needs support can access it without delay.” Concluded the Deputy
