Tusla, the child and family agency, said it will address serious shortcomings highlighted by an inspection report into its fostering services in parts of Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow, which included a shortage of social workers and foster carers.

A report on pre-schools, nurseries, creches, and day- care centres has found that children had access to dangerous materials, that some centres were damp and rodent-infested, and that there were several instances where staff did not receive Garda clearance to work with children.

Addiction services for almost 1,000 people will be “set back 10 years” by major cuts imposed yesterday.

THE Health Service Executive has spent more than €100 million on predominantly private security services for its facilities over the last six years.

TWO out of five shops and two out of three licensed premises are still willing to sell cigarettes to children, new research shows.