Tusla Admits It Cannot Count How Many Foster Carers Were Removed Over Allegations as Data Failures Exposed
Tusla, Ireland's Child and Family Agency, has admitted that it cannot confirm how many foster carers were removed from the system due to complaints or allegations, after an initial Freedom of Information response provided a figure of 46 that the agency later admitted was an "overcount" that could not be validated. The admission has exposed significant gaps in Tusla's data collection and reporting systems, raising serious questions about the agency's ability to monitor the fostering system effectively and to ensure that children in care are adequately protected.
Background
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is responsible for the welfare and protection of children in Ireland, including the oversight of the foster care system. Foster care is the primary form of alternative care for children who cannot live with their families, and Tusla is responsible for recruiting, assessing, and supporting foster carers, as well as for monitoring the quality of care provided to children in foster placements. The agency oversees approximately 6,000 children in foster care at any given time, and the quality of its oversight is critical to the safety and wellbeing of those children.
The question of how many foster carers have been "statutorily ceased" — a term used for carers required to step back from the role due to founded allegations, complaints, or serious concerns — is an important indicator of the agency's ability to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns. A robust system for tracking these cases is essential for ensuring that individuals who have been removed from the fostering system in one area cannot simply move to another area and resume fostering. The Irish Association of Social Workers has expressed confidence in the robustness of the assessment process in this regard, but the data failures revealed by the FOI request raise questions about whether that confidence is fully justified.
The broader context for the data failures is one of significant pressure on Tusla's systems and resources. The agency has faced "unprecedented demand" for services in recent years, driven by a rise in unaccompanied child asylum seekers and by increasing complexity in the cases it is managing. Internal documents have revealed that senior officials have expressed concerns about the quality of some private providers used for emergency accommodation and about potential conflicts of interest, yet these concerns were sometimes overruled due to the urgent need for beds. The data failures in the fostering system are part of a broader picture of an agency that is struggling to manage its responsibilities with the resources available to it.
Key Developments
The data failures were revealed through a Freedom of Information request that sought information on the number of foster carers who had been statutorily ceased. Tusla's initial response provided a figure of 46, but the agency subsequently admitted that this figure was an "overcount" and could not be validated. The agency acknowledged that the data was not centrally collated and relied on manual collection from various teams across the country, with significant inconsistencies in how the information was historically recorded and reported.
The admission has significant implications for Tusla's ability to monitor the fostering system effectively. If the agency cannot accurately count the number of foster carers who have been removed from the system due to concerns, it cannot be confident that its oversight mechanisms are working as intended. The Irish Association of Social Workers has maintained that the assessment process prevents individuals who have been removed from one area from resuming fostering in another, but the data failures make it difficult to verify that claim with confidence.
The broader picture of the fostering system revealed by the FOI investigation is also concerning. Between 2023 and 2025, there was a net loss of 163 foster carers, with 770 leaving the system and 607 beginning the role. There were 297 disruption reports linked to foster placements during that same three-year period, often driven by factors such as the child's complex needs, behavioural difficulties, or the inability of carers to provide necessary support. A survey of foster carers found that while overall satisfaction remains high at 81 per cent, 43 per cent have considered discontinuing their role, with 40 per cent reporting burnout.
Why It Matters
The data failures at Tusla are significant for several reasons. First, they raise questions about the agency's ability to fulfil its statutory obligations to children in care. If Tusla cannot accurately track the number of foster carers who have been removed from the system due to concerns, it cannot be confident that its safeguarding mechanisms are working effectively. Second, the failures reflect a broader pattern of data management problems within Tusla that have been identified in previous reviews and audits. The agency has been working to address these problems through the Tusla Case Management system, which was launched in 2021 to reduce reliance on manual data collection, but the FOI response suggests that progress has been slower than hoped.
Third, the data failures have implications for public confidence in the fostering system. Foster care is a critical service for some of the most vulnerable children in Irish society, and the public has a right to expect that the system is being managed with the highest standards of accountability and transparency. The admission that Tusla cannot accurately count the number of foster carers removed due to concerns is a significant blow to that confidence, and it will require a robust and credible response from the agency to restore it.
The net loss of 163 foster carers between 2023 and 2025 is also a significant concern. Foster care is already under pressure from increasing demand, and the loss of experienced carers — combined with the burnout reported by 40 per cent of those surveyed — suggests that the system is under significant strain. Addressing the recruitment and retention challenges in the fostering system will require a sustained investment in carer support, training, and financial recognition.
Local Impact
The impact of the data failures and the broader pressures on the fostering system is felt across Ireland, but it is particularly acute in areas where Tusla's resources are most stretched. In Dublin, where the demand for foster care placements is highest, the agency has been relying heavily on private providers for emergency accommodation — a situation that has raised concerns about quality and oversight. In rural areas, the shortage of foster carers is particularly acute, with some children having to be placed far from their home communities because local placements are not available. The Tusla Case Management system, which is intended to address the data management problems, is being rolled out across the country, but the pace of implementation has been slower than planned. The agency has indicated that it expects the system to be fully operational across all areas by the end of 2027.
What's Next
Tusla has indicated that it is working to address the data management problems identified by the FOI investigation through the Tusla Case Management system. The agency is expected to provide a detailed update on the progress of the system's implementation to the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in the coming weeks. The committee is expected to request a full briefing from Tusla on the data failures and on the steps being taken to address them. The Minister for Children, Norma Foley, is also expected to be briefed on the matter and to consider whether additional resources or oversight mechanisms are needed to address the problems identified. A review of Tusla's data management systems is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
