Ireland’s child and family agency Tusla is facing a massive €67.8 million budget overspend this year as it struggles to cope with unprecedented demand for its services.
The agency, which had already overspent by €8.9 million by May, warned that costs are spiraling due to increased demand for residential care, fostering, legal services, and support for separated asylum-seeking children.
The projected overspend includes €7.6 million for children in the international protection process and Ukrainian refugees. Tusla expects to spend €38.8 million above budget on special care, fostering, and private residential placements alone.
A significant factor is the sharp rise in placements for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, with 343 residential placements costing an estimated €6.1 million overspend. The agency also faces increased costs for “out-of-state placements” when Irish facilities are unavailable, requiring children to be placed in UK services.
Legal costs are mounting due to increased court appointments of Guardian ad Litem representatives for children, while staff travel expenses are expected to exceed budget by €2.2 million despite new cost controls.
Tusla emphasized that most expenditure is demand-led, making it impossible to reduce costs without impacting services for vulnerable children and families. The agency said it has implemented strict pricing arrangements and cost-saving initiatives, but described demand as “unpredictable” and “unprecedented.”