Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan says the State should be legally obliged to provide aftercare for separated asylum-seeking children once they turn 18.

Some children who were trafficked into and within the country may still be in vulnerable situations due to a lack of follow-up monitoring, according to a new report.

CHILDREN are having to remain in special care units instead of being placed with foster families because of lengthy waiting times for Garda vetting.

JUST five of the 22 juvenile asylum seekers who went missing from the care of the Health Service Executive last year were later found.

More than 2,700 non-national children separated from both parents have been referred to the East Coast Area Health Board in the past five years, according to a new report from the Irish Refugee Council.