Figures released by Tusla to Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD suggest that 94,000 children were referred to them last year.
Deputy Tóibín raised the matter with the Taoiseach in the Dáil this week. Speaking in the Dáil Deputy Tóibín said:
“Taoiseach, fresh statistics released to me just this morning by Tusla shows that in the first nine months of last year some 70,000 children were referred to Tusla. This would mean last year more children were referred than ever before. Nearly 7,000 of these referrals were for physical abuse, over 4,000 for sexual abuse, 4,000 for neglect and 43,000 for a Child Welfare Concern”.
Deputy Tóibín continued: “Most of the referrals were made by Gardaí, social workers and Teachers, but also probation officers, immigration officials, managers of direct provision centres, homeless accommodation and addiction counsellors”.
“I want to know why the referrals are going up and what extra resources are being given to Tusla to facilitate a processing of these referrals. We have a shortage of beds in residential care and also a shortage of foster carers – will the Taoiseach meet with representatives of foster carers, the residential care sector and indeed the group EPIC who represent children in care?”, concluded Tóibín.
