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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
How hot does it have to be for creches to close in Ireland and what should be done in heatwave as temps to soar to 29C
FORECASTERS have confirmed, blasting sunshine, scorching 29C temperatures and dry weather in the coming days. But while country will be basking in sunshine and hot and humid temperatures - how will this impact creches? Met Eireann and nationwide Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel said: "We can say with certainty that Ireland will experience its warmest temperatures of the year to date this week, as very warm air from the Iberian peninsula is pulled northwards on the back of a southerly airflow." The meteorologist also revealed temperatures could reach close to 30C. He explained: "Thursday and Friday will be both very warm or locally hot days with temperatures generally reaching between 23-26C, but locally reaching up to 27C or even 28C in prolonged spells of sunshine or areas northwest of high ground." READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS But many Could it be a case where HOW HOT DOES IT HAVE TO BE FOR CRECHES TO CLOSE? Creches and early years services are required to ensure the health, safety and well being of children by making sure temperatures remain within a safe range, according to Tusla. According to Quality and Regulatory Framework they must make sure there is suitable heating provided in both the summer and winter. MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN Rooms for sleeping should always be maintained at between 16C and 20C, while care rooms used for children should have a temperature of between 18C and 22C. Tusla explained that in the event of extreme temperatures, "providers of early years services should undertake a risk assessment and take appropriate actions to mitigate against potential risks to the children in attendance." WEATHER WARNINGS Serious weather warnings, such as status red, orange or yellow heatwave warnings could urge a creche to shut its doors. For there to be a weather warning in the first place, there are certain temperature factors that are necessary. To require an orange "threat to life" warning, temperatures would need to reach over 30C for three days and a minimum of 20C for two nights. In a Status Red weather warning, all schools and universities are required to shut. For this level of alert, temperatures would be required to hit 30C during the day and 20C at night for five or more consecutive days and nights. Without these factors, it's up to the individual creche to decide whether they are capable of maintaining a comfortable temperature for the little ones. If, for example, the water isn't running or the air conditioning is interrupted, they may decide it's best to shut. HOW TO PROTECT CHILDREN When sending your little one to their creche during a heatwave, there are a number of things to keep in mind - for both parents and teachers. Always make sure to pack extra water to keep them hydrated throughout the day. You should also put sun cream and a hat on them before they head off to avoid sunburn and overheating. Parents may also be asked by the creche to dress their kids in light and breathable clothing. Teachers should keep rooms ventilated with an open window, and may even limit outdoor play time during the peak hours of 11am to 4pm. They will also ensure kids have access to enough water, and apply sun cream again throughout the day if needed. Early Childhood Ireland advised teachers: "Use a room thermometer to ensure that nap rooms or sleep rooms are at the correct temperature. "We recommend that rooms in which babies or children sleep are at 16C to 20C. "Children should not sleep in direct sunlight." And for kids with other Early Childhood Ireland added: "If a child in your care has additional health needs or special needs, ask the parents if there are any special recommendations for their child, or if they are more at risk from the heat." 1 There are a number of things to remember before sending your child off in the morning Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Irish Times
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Judge hails special care progress as ‘no beds' list drops to zero
It was like 'winning the All-Ireland' to know every child in crisis who needed a secure care bed had one, a High Court judge has said. For the 'first time' in more than six months there was no 'no beds' list, said Mr Justice John Jordan on Thursday as he opened his court. Mr Justice Jordan hears cases of children who, for their own safety or that of others, need to be detained by order in secure care, also known as special care. His weekly sitting reviews updates on children in special care and Tusla applications for special care orders in respect of children about whom it has serious concerns. READ MORE Though 26 special care beds exist in three units, just 16 are operational due to staff shortages, leading to children in respect of whom orders have been made being left without beds. Their cases are included on the 'no beds' list. 'For the first time in a long time, six months-plus, absent from the list is the 'no beds' section,' said the judge. It meant 'all the special care order are now effective – not before time'. 'I want to credit those who have achieved [what some weeks ago it seemed] might be impossible. I am not quite sure how it has been achieved but I am hoping this situation will be maintained ... It something I have been hoping for, for a long period. It's right up there with winning the All-Ireland.' He did 'not want to see a 'no bed' section on the list again. I want to see the situation which is now existing maintained.' He hoped he was 'not tempting fate', he said. [ Hundreds of children waiting more than a year to access mental health services Opens in new window ] A girl who entered special care 'as a very damaged young person' and who left recently was doing 'very, very well', the court heard. She is now in aftercare, and Tusla was working 'extremely hard' to ensure a horse with whom she had a strong therapeutic relationship could move with her. The judge said Tusla 'deserves credit' and agreed the horse must be accessible to the girl. 'In this list equine therapy has frequently proved more beneficial than the other interventions or therapies provided to children. 'This is one very clear illustration of the benefits of involvement in horses for children – because of the success of involvement between [the girl and the horse] it is important that this situation continue.' In the case of a 17-year-old boy who will have to leave special care on reaching 18, Tusla remains unable to identify an onward placement. The boy has set fires in his unit and remains 'anxious' about what will happen when he reaches his majority, the court heard. Of 15 potential private aftercare providers identified, none was 'in a position to offer a place', said counsel for Tusla. There was a lack of clarity as to whether he had a borderline or mild intellectual disability. The latter will entitle him to adult HSE disability services. Counsel for his grandmother said she was 'very concerned as to what the future holds'. 'She is ... anxious that he receives the benefit of every service and input that can be given to him ... She wants the throw the kitchen sink at this to give [him] every opportunity and chance at life as he turns 18,' the court heard. Listing the case for July 10th, Mr Justice Jordan said he wanted 'to know more about the mild vs borderline discussion and the consequences of either in terms of services available'.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
Boy (16) with drug debt and at risk of death ‘very aggrieved' about detention in secure care, court hears
A teenage boy said to be 'at real risk of death' but 'very aggrieved' at being detained in secure care for his own safety, assaulted two staff members on admission to the unit, the High Court heard on Tuesday. The 16-year-old, who had amassed a €1,000 drug-debt and was told 'war' would be declared if he did not pay, was taken by gardaí to secure care, known as 'special care', on June 5th on foot of a short-term High Court order. The court had heard the boy, who has been in State care since 2023, had not been staying in his placement and was 'effectively' residing with his father. Six shots were fired at two of his friends as they left his father's house on a date in the spring. One was hit and not seriously injured, but the boy was the intended target, according to gardaí. READ MORE On Tuesday Mr Justice John Jordan heard the boy insisted he was not the shooting's intended target. He 'does not want to be in special care [and] doesn't believe he should be', the court heard. Barrister Paul Gunning, for Tusla , said things went 'badly' in the first days of the boy's admission. He assaulted two staff members, fracturing the nose of one and biting another. 'It has been a difficult start to this child's time in special care. He did apologise afterwards. He does seem very aggrieved to be in special care,' said Mr Gunning, who sought an order for the boy to be detained in special care for a further three months. Children at risk of serious harm can be detained for their safety on foot of a High Court order in one of the State's special care units. The court heard the boy's parents did not believe their son needed special care. [ Tusla's failure to provide secure care beds for children at risk an 'affront to rule of law', judge says Opens in new window ] Counsel for his mother, who is in hospital for a recurring condition, said she believes her son was 'managing far better in recent times'. He was attending school every Friday, applying for jobs and was hopeful of a position in a discount retailer. The boy calls her daily from his unit and 'is quite disconsolate about his plight', particularly as he is unable to visit her in hospital, the court heard. 'She does appreciate that the social work department have their concerns', but she feels her son 'has done absolutely nothing wrong and he shouldn't be punished by being confined in special care'. She would like him to be there 'for the shortest possible time', the court heard. 'He feels safe in his father's house and would like to go home,' the court heard. The boy's father said he believes the shooting was a case of mistaken identity and the guards were mistaken. The boy's guardian ad litem – an independent person appointed by the court to be the voice of the child – supported Tusla's application for a three-month order. [ Replace secure special care units with one 'centre of excellence', Tusla told Opens in new window ] Granting the order, Mr Justice Jordan said it was 'appropriate'. 'I am not quite sure what the explanation for the different views concerning the threats to [the boy] are, and I expect this issue will be explored and developed between now and the first statutory review [on July 10th] at which stage the views of the Garda Síochána can be obtained.' It is 'likely' there was 'considerable pressure' on the boy and his parents 'if there is a drug debt. Or it may transpire to be, as suggested by [the boy] ... a case of mistaken identity or a misunderstanding. I do wonder about that,' the judge said.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Tusla copy-and-paste process could lead to false claims on children's files, Aontú claim
A review must be carried out on Tusla files amid concerns that incorrect information has been copied on to children's case notes, according to Aontú . The party's leader, Peadar Tóibín , said he was concerned that false claims on files could lead to children being 'wrongly or unnecessarily taken into care'. Tusla staff handling child welfare concerns have previously used a process called 'cloning' – where information about one child is copied on to the form relating to a sibling. Earlier this year, the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) published a review that it carried out on Tusla services in the midlands. The review, which was sparked by concerns about the inaccuracy of information on child and family agency casework in Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, found that staff were using 'cloning' on children's files. This is when certain information is included on the files of each child in a family, even when it may not be accurate. READ MORE The Hiqa report said: 'The process of cloning information from one sibling to another meant that some children's files reviewed did not contain accurate information about the child, but was copied information about a sibling, which meant it did not accurately reflect that individual child's circumstances or level of risk.' During the inspection, the midlands service was found to be not compliant with a standard which ensures relevant information is used 'to plan and deliver effective child-protection and welfare services'. [ Tusla's failure to provide secure care beds for children at risk an 'affront to rule of law', judge says Opens in new window ] Mr Tóibín described the process of 'cloning' as effectively 'copying and pasting'. 'This is a very significant problem – Tusla have openly admitted to me that there are 'copying and pasting' errors on files relating to the process of taking children into State care, off their parents.' The Aontú leader has been asking Tulsa about the practice of copying inaccurate information on to files after becoming aware of a case where a file on a woman included a false assertion that she had a problem with alcohol when she does not drink. The case, which was reported on by The Irish Times in 2021 , involved a number of 'clear errors' on the family's file. Tusla has since apologised to the family. 'Tusla refuse to tell me how many others are affected, and say they are training staff in how to copy and paste accurately. This isn't good enough,' Mr Tóibín said. 'Aontú believe there must be a review of all files to determine how many others contain untruths and inaccuracies, and indeed how many other children have been wrongly or unnecessarily taken into care.' Tusla previously said it had taken action and increased staff training in order to avoid mistakes being copied on to files. In response to the Hiqa review, Tusla said 'workers have been advised of the importance of ensuring accuracy of information specific to each child when cloning records. Team meetings and the supervision process will be utilised to continue to reinforce this.'
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Around 2,300 foster children expected to benefit again from back-to-school allowance
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary is expected to bring a memo to the Government tomorrow to extend the initiative to include foster families. It is estimated around 2,300 children in foster care will now qualify for the allowance. The yearly payment offers help to families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear. It is deemed particularly vital during a time of inflation. The allowance for this year is €160 for a child who is aged from four to 11, and €285 for those aged from 12 to 22. To qualify children and young adults must be between these ages on or before September 30 this year. Students aged between 18 and 22 must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in autumn 2025. Last September, the issue was raised by Independent TD Michael Lowry, who asked the then children's minister Roderic O'Gorman if he would ensure foster families were paid the benefit. Mr O'Gorman said at that time Heather Humphreys, whose brief was Social Protection, had 'informed' him that the allowance 'is not payable in respect of foster children, as the financial support provided to foster parents by Tusla, the Foster Care Allowance, includes provision for the cost of clothing and footwear for the foster child'. Mr O'Gorman had at that point said that the rates for the Foster Care Allowance were to rise to €400 a week for a child under 12 and to €425 for those over 12. Families are being reminded the application window to apply for the benefit is now open until September 30. The social welfare payment is a once-off annual means-tested payment. ADVERTISEMENT Applications can be filled out online at My or families can request that a form be sent to them in the post. Those who qualify for the scheme must be receiving a social welfare payment already, such as carer's allowance or benefit; supplementary welfare allowance, disability allowance; one-parent family allowance; working family payment; or jobseeker's allowance or benefit. Others can also qualify, if their household is within the school clothing and footwear allowance income limits, or if they are in an approved employment, education or training support scheme. The weekly income limits to qualify for the scheme for one child are €694. For two children, the income limit is €756. The limit is €818 for three children and €880 for four children.
