18-Year-Old Max, a Former Tusla Ward, Sleeps Homeless in Agency Car Park

In January 2026, RTÉ filmed 18-year-old Max, a former Tusla ward, sleeping in the underground car park of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, in Naas, Co Kildare. Max, who spent almost his entire life in Tusla's care, became homeless after leaving the system in October. He described the car park as dry with power for his phone, but not ideal for sleeping.

Max entered care in 2010 at age three and endured sexual abuse within the system. He later struggled in mainstream residential services and was moved to Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs), often hotel rooms, which are unregulated. While in an SEA, Max went missing for 2.5 hours and suffered further abuse. Despite a High Court order for him to be placed in a secure Special Care facility, Tusla had no beds, leaving him in an unregulated SEA. He subsequently caused damage in another SEA hotel, was remanded to Oberstown Youth Detention Centre, and then spent nearly 2.5 years in secure care due to Tusla's inability to provide a step-down facility.

After a placement broke down due to alleged fires, Max was moved back to an unregulated SEA where he attempted suicide and was found unconscious. Staff lacked ligature training and first aid kits. Max described SEAs as «hell on earth,» leading to two mental health sections and significant weight gain from daily takeaways. In February 2025, Dublin's District Court ordered Tusla to place Max in a regulated residential service, but Tusla did not comply. His troubles escalated, including suicidal ideation, drug use, alleged assaults, and continued fire-setting, which he admitted was a «fk you» to Tusla.

Despite his escalating issues, Tusla rejected an application for secure care, stating community options were not explored. After turning 18, his aftercare apartment plan was withdrawn due to fire-setting. He was briefly in a psychiatric unit and is now on Kildare County Council's homeless waiting list.