BABY SAVERS..
Children under 12 months top Tusla emergency care orders
Damaged plane in Waterford yesterday Young infants TUSLA got more emergency care orders for babies aged under a year than for any other category in 2017.
The Child and Family Agency obtained 150 orders for children at risk under the age of 18.
A breakdown of the figures provided in response to a Freedom of Information request shows that 30 – or 20% of the total – involved youngsters under 12 months.
The highest number of orders across all age categories amongst children were obtained in Cork and the Midwest in 2017 – with the numbers of ECOS in those areas outstripping the number of obtained in Dublin.
The figures show 39 orders were obtained for children up to 18 years of age in Cork city and county with the Midwest made up of Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary totalling 27.
Barnardos chief Suzanne Connolly said: “In our experience, Tusla does not apply for, and the court does not grant, an emergency care order without justifiable reason to be concerned about the child’s welfare. Factors taken into account when making such a decision are based around a real concern about the safety of a child.
“This can include parental issues with chronic addiction, chaotic lifestyle and serious mental health difficulties.
“The first 12 months of a child’s life is a particularly vulnerable time in terms of development and the decision to implement an ECO is not taken lightly either by Tusla or the courts.”