A FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION of a Tusla service in the Dublin North City area found the centre to be non-compliant with all five standards assessed.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspected the service in June 2025 to see how it had improved after a previous inspection in May 2024 found several non-compliance issues.

A report published today said inspectors deemed the service was not fully performing its functions in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, national policies and standards to protect children and promote their welfare.

The health and safety watchdog previously referred concerns to the Tusla CEO after finding that a significant number of child protection and welfare referrals for children were not screened.

It also had concerns about governance and oversight of the service, the safeguarding of children, the significant number of child protection and welfare referrals for children in care and the lack of the service’s capacity to effectively manage referrals and assessments in a timely manner.  

In 2024, Tusla submitted a national compliance plan to Hiqa which outlined how it would improve services due to a significant number of children waiting for a service.

Today’s report found that the service had progressed in some areas since the previous inspection, but not enough to address the “significant risks” identified.

Minister for Children Norma Foley has said she expects Tusla to produce a full report on the Hiqa findings, RTÉ has reported.

“Whatever is highlighted or pointed out by HIQA will be acted on,” Foley said, adding that the “duty of care is of paramount importance”.

‘Significant risks’

One of the main issues was staffing.  Hiqa said the service did not have enough experienced staff with the required skills to support the delivery of a safe and effective service.

The report said it was of “significant concern” that the staffing issue flagged in an April 2024 inspection had not been fixed.

The issue of staffing made the service non-compliant with two national standards: The requirement to effectively manage resources to protect children and promote their welfare and the requirement that staff have the required skills and experience to manage and deliver effective service.

The service was also found to be non-compliant in the area of leadership, governance, and management arrangements with clear lines of accountability.

Another major issue was the lack of adherence to policies and laws, which caused the service to be found to be non-compliant in two other standards.

The report said that while there was some evidence of good practice, the service area was not effectively ensuring that all children referred to the child protection and welfare service were safe, appropriately cared for and received support that was timely.

The service has been given instructions to improve compliance, which they must do before 5 December this year.

The Department of Children said that Tusla has made an effort to improve its service since the inspection.

In a statement, it said: “Tusla has stated that since the time of the inspection, it has made significant improvements and rectified almost all areas highlighted by HIQA, with any remaining actions being addressed as a matter of priority.

“Tusla has submitted an action plan to address all areas outlined for improvement as a matter of urgency. This plan was accepted by HIQA and is well underway, with significant progress made in each of the standards assessed.”

It said Tusla has increased the number of social workers at the ‘front door’ of the service area from three to eight, and 94% of child protection and welfare referrals in Dublin North City are now being screened within two working days.