Tusla approves €1m yearly spend on out-of-State care plan for at risk teenager

Gordon Deegan

A judge has commented that “the chequebook is open for obvious reasons” after being told that a Child and Family Agency therapeutic service has signed off on a €1 million spend per year on the out-of-jurisdiction care for an at-risk and vulnerable teenager.

At a Family Law Court sitting, Judge Alec Gabbett said that the costs of caring for the teenager in Scotland “would be €1 million a year” and solicitor for Tusla, the Child & Family Agency, Kevin Sherry agreed, replying “there or thereabouts”.

Judge Gabbett said: “I am very assured that there doesn’t seem to be any budgetary constraints in this case. The chequebook is open for obvious reasons - the risk is so high.”

Mr Sherry said that a facility in Scotland has extended the deadline to Monday, December 8th, for the CFA to confirm a place for the teenager.

Mr Sherry said that a multi-disciplinary therapeutic service within Tusla has approved the Business Plan for the out-of-state care, and it now goes to the Tusla CEO of the region for final approval.

He said that the extension to December 8th provides leeway for the agency to firm up whether it is to action the business plan and go ahead with the out-of-state placement.

Judge Gabbett said that what was proposed “is a good solution” for the teenager, where there is a wrap-around service provided by this institution.

Judge Gabbett said that the service provider will be able to deal with the clearly difficult personality issues going on, and more important than anything, there is a school on site.

Judge Gabbett said that the teenager “is not getting an education at the moment - so get on with it”.

On the costings, Judge Gabbett asked: “How much is this place per week? It is probably €25,000 per week?”

In response, the designated Tusla social worker for the teenager, said: “Yes - correct - it is £23,000 per week.”

On an annualised basis, this works out at £1.196 million (€1.369 million).

The TUSLA social worker said that the facility includes an on-site therapeutic school that is ADHD friendly.

She said: “We just don’t have that here.”

Judge Gabbett said that Tusla needs to make a final decision on the out-of-jurisdiction placement without delay. Judge Gabbett said that the placement will require orders in the High Court here and the High Court in Scotland.

He said that what we don’t need now is the scenario "that is it seven hurdles, three by-passes and seven chicanes and 45 meetings before you get a significant result here, because that is the reality".

Judge Gabbett said that “this child is at risk”.

He said: “It is either on or it is off - get on with it. Otherwise, I will find a therapeutic place in Ireland for this child.”

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to December 18th.