Residential Care: Other Placements

As of May 2019 Tusla reported that 104 children were in an “Other” care placement. This was less than 2% of all children in care. 94% of these children had an allocated social worker and 96% had a written care plan.

Some examples of “Other Care Placements” include:

• children who may be at home on a care order under supervision as part of a plan for them to return to their family home
• young people placed in supported lodgings
• placement in a residential centre for young people with a disability

Out of State Secure

Tusla seeks to place children with complex needs within Ireland; but in some limited circumstances children are placed abroad where their specific needs can be met. These children often present with a complex range of needs due to injury, accident or childhood experiences. The needs of a child are prioritised over the location of the placement when seeking such specialist services.

Other Out of State Placements

At times children may be placed with specialised foster carers or a residential placement out of state. If necessary, children can also be placed with relatives living in another country.

Children placed abroad remain in the care of the State, have an allocated social worker who visits them in their placement, and have a care plan which is reviewed within the statutory framework.

At the end of May 2019 23 children in care were in an out of state placement.

This was 0.4% of all children in care.

Further data relating to children in care can be found here.