A review of the special care system for children aged between 11 and 17 years old has found it is in crisis, with critical bed shortages and staffing difficulties.
The external review was commissioned by the Child & Family Agency, Tusla, to look at the system which is designed to provide secure therapeutic intervention for children who are subject to High Court orders.
There are three special care units in the State and they are operating significantly below their registered capacity of 26 beds, with only 14 beds in use during February of this year.
The review says staffing is a critical challenge, with more staff departing than have been recruited and high absenteeism rates often linked to violent incidents.
It recommends increased remuneration for special care staff to bring it into line with pay rates for comparable roles at the children's detention campus at Oberstown.
Up to 30 recommendations made
The review makes 30 recommendations. In addition to increased pay, it proposes a greater level of psychological support for staff and a review of rosters to make the roles more attractive and family friendly.
It also recommends increased capacity, to be delivered by a dedicated Project Team and the reintroduction of High Support Units.
It says that this would require the support of Minister for Children and also legal reform.
Increased capacity in Foster Care, with new types of foster care placement and increased community care, are also recommended.
The review says: "Ongoing and considerable capital investment is needed to keep the maintain the existing three centres and keep the physical infrastructure up to a desirable standard."
Authors of the report say that they "believe a budget uplift will be required to achieve a different skill mix and additional service inputs."
They call for the establishment of a centre of excellence, but add that funding will have to be identified and included in the forthcoming review of the National Development Plan.
