Tusla reports that a total of 34 children in its care are missing

They were among 34 children missing as of May 9, according to data provided to Mr O’Gorman’s department by Tusla.

In response to a parliamentary question by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, Mr O’Gorman said the 34 children include 23 who were in the Separated Children Seeking International Protection service.

The other 11 missing at that date were from the mainstream care system.

Mr O’Gorman said: “Of these 11 children, seven had been missing for between one and three days, while four had been missing for between three and seven days. None had been missing for a longer period.”

He added: “The latest data provided by Tusla as of May 9, states that there are 23 children in the Separated Children Seeking International Protection service remain missing from care. Of these one child is missing since 2022, 13 from 2023, and nine to date in 2024.”

The ‘Irish Examiner’ revealed in April that 19 children in the Separated Children Seeking International Protection service were missing — four fewer than on May 9.

Mr O’Gorman said: “The care and welfare of children in care is a priority for the department and this is continuously reviewed with Tusla. The department continues to keep the issue of safeguarding all children in the care of the state as a top priority. The department receives fortnightly reports for all children and young people missing in care from Tusla.”

Mr Murphy said: “It is very concerning that there is one child missing since 2022 and 13 missing since 2023.

I would like to hear what the State is doing to try to make sure these children are ok and are not being exploited. I will be following this up with the minister.

A review is being undertaken by Tusla into sexual exploitation concerns in residential care following the publication of the Protecting Against Predators study last year by researchers at the Sexual Exploitation and Research Programme at UCD.

It reported that children and young people, and in particular girls, in residential care or who go missing while in State care, are being targeted for sexual exploitation in an organised manner by co-ordinated networks of predatory men.

Last month, Tusla told the Irish Examiner 50 reports of young people suspected of being at risk of sexual exploitation while in State care were notified to gardaí and the agency last year — up from 22 the previous year. Up to early May, 14 such reports have been made this year.

Tusla and An Garda Síochána work together on the cases of missing children in care, through a Joint Protocol. 

However, the agency says some unaccompanied minors who go missing from care “communicate their intention to travel on to other countries to join family members, and some indicate that it was never their intention to remain in Ireland and leave soon after they arrive in the country”.