122 interim care orders granted by Tusla last year

THERE were three Emergency Care Orders (ECO) and 122 interim care orders granted by Tusla in the Wexford-Waterford area between January 1 and November 30, 2018.

The national child and family agency is tasked with assessing the likelihood of any current or potential future risk to children all over the country.

A spokesperson for the organisation, who confirmed the figures to this newspaper, said necessary interventions are made if it’s believed a child might be at risk.

‘If, on the basis of the reported concern or any [other] existing information, there is reason to believe that a child is in immediate risk of harm the concern is followed up immediately and any necessary interventions made,’ said the spokesperson.

‘In the vast majority of cases where a child cannot live with his or her parents and needs to be taken into the care of Tusla, a voluntary care arrangement is agreed between Tusla and the child’s parents,’ she added.

Emergency Care Orders are sought in the most serious of cases where there is a serious and immediate risk to a child’s safety and welfare and where there is no other suitable option.

An interim care order covers a short period of time and is designed to protect the child in the short term.

The figures presented to this newspaper related to the Wexford Waterford area as that’s how the figures are collated rather than being county specific.