Recent inspection by Hiqa revealed that about 30 children were reported as missing or unaccounted for from a Tusla welfare service. Among them is a 12-year-old child who went missing in 2023, and it is still unclear whether the child has been located.

The child is part of a group of 50 unaccompanied minors seeking international protection who were reported missing during the inspection of the Tusla welfare service. Hiqa conducted the inspection over four days in January and February.

According to the report, 50 children were reported as 'missing in care' by Tusla in the previous 12 months. At the time of the inspection, approximately 30 children remained unaccounted for, while 27 children had been reported missing and later returned to their placements.

One concerning case involved a 12-year-old girl who had been missing for over 18 months before the inspection. There were no records of strategy meetings held with authorities to locate her. Another case highlighted a 14-year-old missing for more than six months without proper coordination with other jurisdictions.

Hiqa and Tusla have been urged to provide information on the whereabouts of these missing children. Inspectors found that the service was not managing missing cases according to the national protocol for children missing in care.

The inspection revealed that due to poor governance, the exact number of missing children could not be determined as the tracking system was outdated. Additionally, some children in the service were not allocated a social worker, leading to delays in addressing their needs.

Hiqa identified gaps in managing child-protection concerns and safeguarding visits, citing high referral rates and staff vacancies as challenges affecting the service's improvement. Despite these issues, Tusla has made progress in governance, staff training, and case management since the previous inspection.

In response to the report, Tusla emphasized its commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the service and ensuring the safety and well-being of all children under its care. Steps have been taken to increase staff, enhance collaboration with other agencies, and strengthen governance to continue improving the service.