Oversight & ethics enforcementChild protection

Tusla left some at-risk Dublin children waiting over six months for anyone to act on abuse reports, failing every standard inspectors checked.

Confidence: Confirmed · 4 sourcesIreland · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Tusla - Child and Family Agency

Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Ireland)

Also named

Oversight

Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)

What happened

Ireland's Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspected Tusla's Dublin North City child protection and welfare service in June 2025 as a follow-up to a May 2024 inspection, and in a report published 18 November 2025 found it non-compliant with all five standards assessed. Inspectors found the service 'not safe, adequate or timely': screening of most referrals was significantly delayed, for some children over six months passed before any action was taken, and hundreds of the 1,543 open cases had not been screened. Inspectors cited a case where safety planning for a child in care took over seven weeks after an abuse allegation, and significant risks identified in 2024 had not been addressed. Tusla said its compliance plan was well under way and most issues had since been rectified; Minister for Children Norma Foley said HIQA's findings would be acted on.

Sources (4)

The Irish TimesService deemed 'not safe, adequate or timely'; 'For some children, over six months passed before any action was taken'; 1,543 open cases at end of May 2025; non-compliant in all five standards.

RTÉ NewsFailed all five child protection and welfare standards assessed; only 19 of 52 required qualified social workers in position; Minister Norma Foley: 'Whatever is highlighted or pointed out by HIQA will be acted on.'

TheJournal.ieService found non-compliant with all five national standards assessed; Tusla says 'almost all areas' highlighted have since been rectified.

HIQA inspection report (Tusla CPW, Dublin North City, 24 June 2025)Primary report (site blocked automated access; findings taken from the three outlets above).

Response

Tusla - Child and Family Agency

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

Norma Foley

Not yet contacted

Not yet contacted for this story.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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