More than 500 children were deemed to be at risk in their homes and placed in emergency out-of-hours care last year.

 

528 children were removed from their parent’s or guardian’s home in 2015 because of what is being called “emergency situations” and placed in one of two crisis services.

 

 

280 found themselves in the emergency out-of-hours place of safety service (EPSS) which provides foster care for those who have been removed from their home under Section 12 of the Child Care Act.

 

Section 12 states that a child can be removed when a member of Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds for believing that there is an immediate risk to the child and it wouldn’t be safe to wait for an emergency care order by a health board.

 

 

Cork saw the highest number of children using EPSS last year for 54 children placed in emergency care.

 

A second service – the Out-of-Hours Crisis Intervention Service - operating in Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and some Midland areas saw 248 more children placed in care.

 

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