Charles Ward questions the difference between SEAs previously contracted by TUSLA and those now registered under TUSLA, and asks what happens if a provider fails registration. He receives clarification that some providers are the same, some supply staffing governed by TUSLA, and centres that fail registration lead to child removal after 45 days.
Summary of the response
Charles Ward is told that some SEA providers contracted in the past remain in the market and have been assessed for registration. Where providers meet registration criteria, TUSLA continues to work with them; where they provide staffing, those arrangements are governed by TUSLA.
Providers and market entry
The exchange clarifies that private providers sometimes enter the market and TUSLA works with them to ensure they meet registration standards. The representative states they are satisfied that some providers meet all criteria in relation to registration.
Staffing and governance
Some providers are described as supplying staffing on TUSLA's behalf and therefore operate under TUSLA governance for those roles. This distinction affects oversight and accountability for services delivered directly or via contractors.
Consequences for non-compliance
Where a service fails to achieve registration, the official answer is that a child will be removed after 45 days if the centre has not achieved registration. This sets a clear timeline for enforcement and protection of children in placement settings.
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What is the difference between the SEAs which are contracted by TUSLA in the past and the ones that are now registered under TUSLA? How many of these same companies are in placement settings? And I'm just going to give you a couple of questions and you can answer them off. Are these companies, the same companies, are they now just brought under the TUSLA registration? And what happens if an SEA provider fails in the registration process? Are the children immediately removed? Or is there a time period? If you could answer that please, thank you. So, just to say, some of the providers are the same. It's where we've worked with those. And I think that is important to recognise. In some of the provision of SEAs, providers enter the market, private providers, and we have worked with them and we are satisfied that they meet all of the criteria in relation to registration. Some of the providers are providing staffing on our behalf and governed by TUSLA. And where a service fails registration after 45 days, a child is removed after 45 days if that centre hasn't achieved registration.
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