Publication
Spending Review 2020 Tusla Residential Care Costs
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
This paper, produced by the Research and Evaluation Unit, provides an assessment of Tusla-funded residential care costs. Residential care is a demand-led service characterised by the complex needs of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the State. It is a key social policy intervention underpinned by statutory duties prescribed by the Child Care Act 1991. This Spending Review identifies the key cost drivers of Tusla-funded residential care in recent years, in particular during the 2016 to 2019 period.
The paper develops over three main sections. Section 1 of the paper describes the context and rationale for State provision of residential care services for children and young people. Section 2 provides an overview of government-funded residential care costs in recent years. Section 3 presents an analysis of the key cost drivers underpinning residential care costs in recent years.
The paper concludes with a summary of key findings, along with suggestions for additional data collection, reporting and analysis.
