Retired Tusla Professional Questions Call for Increased Funding in Budget 2027

Jacqueline Roche, a recently retired professional from Tusla’s Child Protection and Welfare Service, expressed sadness regarding Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children’s, call for increased Tusla funding in Budget 2027. Roche, also an Irish taxpayer, believes this call requires more critical examination.

Dr. Muldoon argues for increased investment as a matter of leadership on children’s rights during Ireland’s EU presidency. Roche counters that leadership is measured by outcomes, and outcomes for many children in Tusla’s care remain troubling. These children, having experienced abuse, neglect, or family crisis, are often failed by the State, their parent of last resort.

Documented evidence from Hiqa inspection reports, the Child Law Project, and Oireachtas scrutiny consistently highlights poor outcomes, inadequate placements, and accountability failures within Tusla. Roche argues that advocating for more public funding without addressing this record is premature. The decline in foster carer numbers and chronic shortage of residential placements are known issues, but the solution is not simply increasing the budget of an agency that has not demonstrated effective use of existing resources.

Roche suggests that if foster care placements are unavailable, Tusla should build and staff high-quality statutory children’s homes that are properly resourced, independently inspected, and publicly accountable. She urges the Ombudsman for Children to make any advocacy for new funding conditional on measurable improvements in the safety and quality of care, to avoid rewarding failure while vulnerable children continue to be let down.