Spending Review 2020 Tusla Residential Care Costs

This paper, produced by the Research and Evaluation Unit, provides an assessment of Tusla-funded residential care costs. Residential care is a demand-led service characterised by the complex needs of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the State. It is a key social policy intervention underpinned by statutory duties prescribed by the Child Care Act 1991. This Spending Review identifies the key cost drivers of Tusla-funded residential care in recent years, in particular during the 2016 to 2019 period.

The paper develops over three main sections. Section 1 of the paper describes the context and rationale for State provision of residential care services for children and young people. Section 2 provides an overview of government-funded residential care costs in recent years. Section 3 presents an analysis of the key cost drivers underpinning residential care costs in recent years.

The paper concludes with a summary of key findings, along with suggestions for additional data collection, reporting and analysis.