HIQA REPORT FINDS SERIOUS CHILD PROTECTION ISSUES AT DUBLIN FACILITY
A HIQA report has highlighted serious child protection issues at a high-dependency support unit for teenagers in the north-east Dublin area.
The unannounced inspection of Crannog Nua in Portrane took place in October and found that some practices at the unit put children at risk.
Inspectors found that corridor doors were locked after 8pm after bed time, breaching fire safety regulations and the children’s human rights.
It was also noted that within a 12-month period there were 134 absences from the unit in which only four children were living at the time.
The Irish Independent Health Correspondent Eilish O’Regan says the case will provide a difficult test for the new Child and Family Support Agency.
“One hopes that they would have more authority, perhaps, to set standards and to impose authority – maybe insist on better training for staff – because that’s one of the key issues that has emerged form this report” she said.
“Quite a number of staff who are working with these children – who are admittedly quite difficult – are not fully qualified” she added.
