A Tusla-funded charity which was criticised for poor financial controls says it spent almost €3,500 on gift vouchers for staff because it couldn’t afford to restore their pay.

Children's rights groups have expressed concern over the finding in an inspection report that children in a residential special care centre were pepper-sprayed and handcuffed when gardai responded to staff calls for assistance.

A conference around issues affecting people leaving care will today hear that some young people still face uncertainty around the level of supports open to them, despite considerable improvements in the system over recent years.

There are still massive gaps to be addressed five years after the publication of the Ryan report, a group that supports young people in care said yesterday.