Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has pledged to address shortcomings in foster care services in two locations following critical inspection reports by health watchdog Hiqa.

Two HIQA reports on foster care in the West and Dublin show major deficiencies in services.

The new Child and Family Agency has said it will not be able to detail how many foster carers have been the subject of complaints or how many have been the subject of an investigation until a new database is up and running.

Children were sent to foster carers who were not yet either assessed or approved, while five foster families were still caring for children despite have their application to the service rejected.