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AN INDEPENDENT TD has called for Government action in relation to the number of emergency care orders taken out for children.
Figures released to Mattie McGrath show that close to 1,500 children were taken into emergency care over the four-year period between 2012 to 2015.
An emergency care order is made through the Courts service when there is a real and immediate risk to the child’s safety and welfare and they need to be removed from their family.
Over 2015 – the latest year for which figures are available - 270 children were brought into emergency care. This compares to 366 in 2014; 414 in 2013; and 424 in 2012.
This brings the total figure to 1,474.
Commenting on the figures, McGrath questioned whether Tusla the Child and Family Agency had sufficient resources to deal with the number of children entering care.
“I have been consistently calling on the Minister for Children to take a far more direct approach on these matters,” he said.
In a response, a spokesperson for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs “only intervenes in family life in exceptional cases”.
“However, if there is a serious child protection concern that a child is experiencing abuse (including significant neglect), and the child needs immediate protection, Tusla may apply to the courts to an emergency care order,” the spokesperson said.
In total this year, there were 47,399 referrals made to Tusla’s child protection and welfare services by professionals and members of the public throughout 2016.
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Isn’t 2389 green thumbs more than 2372… Just in terms of ‘top’ comments!
I think you might be right but I’ll go and check. Who knows when you’re dealing with astronomically high numbers like this
Is it weighted for red thumbs?
Roman numeral skills?
How about little old regular numbers Órla?
Thanks for the support guys, it’s been a tough morning for both me and my family coming to terms with this obvious corruption
Don’t let the establishment get you down Baz! Show your support folks: petition.org/justiceforbaz
I’d like to see a change to the comments section on journal. You get some really good top comments but because there is a ‘reply’ option you get idiots and trolls replying because they know their comments will be near the top rather than further down the page.
easy, use the sort by option and go by time
Yeh I agree, even a button to hide “replies” perhaps.
I’d love to get the top comment some week
It’s a pity you talk so much shite so!
Who cares what you think?
Haha you clearly
I think you should let us know which comment got the most thumbs down in the week too. We would see the same few people every week I would say.
I’ve never been so proud or indeed happy that there was such a lack of articles on immigrants or travellers.
It’s a misprint he only has 2368
have your say