By Keith Falkiner | Adam Higgins
“SERIOUS wrongdoing” at several of child and family agency Tusla’s unregulated emergency centres is being investigated by Gardai.
Some fraudsters have milked millions from the discredited €200million scheme.
And a leading social worker chief has called for greater action against evil trafficking gangs who are smuggling children into Ireland — who eventually end up in Tusla’s Special Emergency Arrangements.
Tusla recently vowed to end its use of SEAs, a number of which were bedsits or hotel bedrooms staffed by unqualified adults.
The State agency spent up to €200million on SEAs over the past three-and-a-half years, despite the fact some kids in them were being preyed on and groomed by sex predators and drug gangs.
Aontu leader Peadar Toibin has urged the Gardai to “throw all their powers at this”.
The Irish Association of Social Workers’ chief operations officer, Caroline Strong, said the amount spent on SEAs is “eye-watering”.
But she told The Irish Sun the body has been calling for an end to their use as far back as 2024.
Ms Strong said: “We made a submission to the Taoiseach that year outlining the serious concerns we had about them.
“It was concerning to us to see the high number of private SEA operators that popped up over recent years that were named or registered as taxi companies or other strange businesses like that when it comes to children’s care.
“There have even been investment funds looking at Ireland’s children in care system as a lucrative business.
“There is just no way that the care of the most vulnerable children in our society should ever be seen as lucrative.
“It should only be based on a human rights approach with best practice for the care and needs of the children.”
Ms Strong added that not enough was being done around the issue of child trafficking into Ireland, which ultimately leads to kids ending up in Tusla’s care.
She continued: “This is not about Tusla bashing as there are much bigger issues overall that need a whole-of-Government approach and other agencies, including An Garda Siochana, involved too.
“Tackling child trafficking is certainly not the responsibility of Tusla but they are often left with the responsibility of the children who have been trafficked here.
“What I can’t understand is why the activities of the adults involved in trafficking these children here is not kept under closer surveillance, as there’s no way any child arrives into this country alone without adult involvement along the way.”
Tusla has confirmed to The Irish Sun that it has referred five SEA operators to Gardai over “suspected fraud or serious wrongdoing”.
Tusla stated: “Where we have significant cause for concern, such as suspected fraud or serious wrongdoing, Tusla will refer it to An Garda Siochana without delay.
“Tusla has identified private companies who have not met the standards we expect in relation to validated staff training, references, qualifications and vetting. The Agency subsequently ceased using the services they provide.”
In a statement to The Irish Sun, Gardai confirmed that in two of these five cases, prosecutions were initiated that have resulted in a court conviction.
Cops added: “In a third case following the completion of a Garda investigation, the DPP directed no prosecution.
“An Garda Siochana has a number of investigations which are ongoing at this time.”
Our revelations come just weeks after Tusla admitted it would end the use of SEAs due to their unregulated nature.
The facilities will now be replaced by registered private residential centres, Tusla emergency centres or private temporary placements.
These will then come under State regulations and inspections.
Figures show Tusla spent huge sums on SEAs, amounting to €70million in 2023, €60million in 2024 and €57million in 2025.
Up to €10million was paid out to Ideal Care Services, a firm run by convicted fraudster Jossy Akwuobi, to operate SEAs.
Last year, his wife Karen was handed a six-month suspended sentence after a court heard Ideal Care Services had used “altered” Garda staff vetting and faked background checks for their staff. Judge Anthony Halpin described the op as being “at the high water mark of criminality”.
Aontu leader Toibin has expressed his shock at the nature of complaints being made to Gardai in respect of the care of children.
He told us: “It’s quite simply shocking these five companies have caused such concern that they’ve been referred to the Gardai by Tusla. Obviously the SEAs have been a disastrous mechanism in which to house and protect some of the most vulnerable in the country. We know many of these children have been exposed to shocking situations.”
Deputy Toibin has called for a full investigation by the Government.
He added: “It is mind-blowing to think we could have been spending so much money on organisations, some of which have been designed to milk the system and not protect children.
“The Gardai should throw all their powers at this.”
Meanwhile, Tanaiste Simon Harris has admitted the Government needs to do more to support Tusla in its move away from SEAs.
He told us: “When vulnerable children seek the protection of the State, there is a huge obligation on the State to provide that protection.
“What I would also say is Tusla have been dealing with a significant increase. We’ve also been dealing with a very large increase over a number of years of unaccompanied minors coming into our country.
“These are not in any way, shape or form excuses but they are realities.”
The Finance Minister said the Government is committed to hiking funding for Tusla to improve services but he warned extra cash alone will not solve the problems in the system.
He said: “We are significantly increasing the funding for Tusla. We did this year and that will continue but I think it is more than that as well. I think part of it is getting the migration system right.
“We benefit from migration 100 per cent. But we shouldn’t be seeing unaccompanied minors arriving in our country. The risk to them — forget the migration bit — of being in a foreign land on their own is extraordinary.
“So that migration system and the reforms on migration to a fair and firm system is an important part of it but then absolutely continuing to invest in making sure we have registered State-run homes.”
