High Court Judge: Crannóg Nua Special Care Unit Staffing «Fallen Off a Cliff»

A High Court judge stated that staffing at Crannóg Nua, the State’s largest special care unit for emotionally disturbed children in north Co Dublin, has «fallen off a cliff». This has led to a reduction in available beds, with only 14 of 26 special care beds open nationwide due to recruitment and retention challenges faced by Tusla.

The number of beds at Crannóg Nua has been reduced from five to four. One child, who had benefited «remarkably» from special care, was permanently moved within the campus due to staff shortages and has since experienced «eight and counting» incidents. This move occurred despite assurances it was temporary. Recent weeks saw staff take injury leave after a particularly disturbed and violent child was admitted, and others were put on leave for disagreeing with new work practices. Security personnel are now deployed on campus.

Judge John Jordan highlighted that three boys ordered by the court to be detained in special care could not access beds. One boy, openly using cannabis and potent drugs daily, and another at «very high» risk who repeatedly went missing, urgently needed beds. A third boy, involved in significant criminal behavior, drug use, dealing, carrying weapons, and property damage, also required special care. The judge called it «disgraceful» and noted that children are suffering because Tusla is not complying with court orders.