A secular schools body has brought a legal challenge over a decision that an education and training board should run a new primary school due to open in Co Cork next September.

Who loves you Katie?

THE HSE could be duty bound to report the death of a child linked to the care system within 48 hours of the event, under new guidelines unveiled yesterday.

LOSS of control over children in their care meant staff at a care home run by the Health Service Executive (HSE) were unable to prevent boys and girls staying overnight in each others’ bedrooms.

WHEN the Ryan report was published last May the shocking decades of violence and abuse inflicted on children in care was exposed.

A NUMBER of children in the care of the Health Service Executive (HSE) ended up engaged in criminal behaviour, drinking and in the company of “unsuitable adults”.

THE care of troubled children is being decided on the basis of cost rather than what is in their best interests, according to the authority responsible for standards in the health service.

A CHILDREN’S home recommended for closure five years ago remains open despite being described as unsuitable and unsafe by inspectors.

A HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) fostering service in Meath is in breach of national standards for foster care by failing to ensure all children in the service have a designated social worker.

ROUTINE vaccination of newborns to protect against TB has been suspended at two of the country’s largest maternity hospitals on foot of a Europe-wide shortage of the BCG vaccine.

HEALTH authorities across Europe are facing a potential shortage of the vaccine that protects against TB because of difficulties getting the product independently assessed.

A HOME for troubled children is still in use 18 months after social inspectors said it should be closed down as a matter of urgency.

SAFETY and security measures are to be stepped up in centres for asylum-seeking children, detached from their parents.

HEALTH inspectors have called for the closure of a centre for vulnerable children run by the Health Service Executive (HSE) following reports of serious violent assaults on both residents and staff.

A YEAR after the Leas Cross nursing home scandal, the Government has failed to establish an independent health inspectorate despite promises to due so by the end of 2005.

CHILDREN under the age of 12 in the care of the Health Service Executive are being housed in residential centres rather than foster homes - in breach of the HSE’s own policies.

THE Social Services Inspectorate’s (SSI) fourth annual report into conditions at children’s residential centres during 2004, which is published today, concludes that the services have improved but that quality differs significantly across the country.

An American appeals court has denied an attempt by the granddaughter of Winnie the Pooh creator A.A. Milne to revoke the merchandising rights from a third party.

AN independent inspectorate is to be set up for child detention schools, Minister for Children Brian Lenihan said yesterday.

THE growing use of physical restraints to control extremely disturbed children at a special care facility in North Dublin has been criticised by health inspectors.

Only 6% of child residential centres inspected by the Department of Health last year had proper vetting of staff in place at the time, a report found today.

AN INSPECTION of homes for children in State care has found a lack of suitably qualified staff, poor vetting procedures and youngsters on medication for psychiatric problems.

ONLY half of foster careers who look after a relative have been properly assessed or approved, a new audit has shown.

Catherine Shanahan

A judge has ended a legal fight against the Walt Disney Company that has stretched more than a decade over Winnie the Pooh merchandise royalties.

A judge has ended a legal fight against the Walt Disney Company that has stretched more than a decade over Winnie the Pooh merchandise royalties.

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin has admitted that administering mood-altering drugs to children in care is “not the best response” to treating them.

A FULL report on the case of a 13-year-old girl who became pregnant after being sent to Britain under the care of a health board has been requested by the Minister for Health and Children.

A judge has rejected an attempt by the granddaughter of Winnie the Pooh creator A A Milne to reclaim the family’s copyrights and reassign them to The Walt Disney Company.

VETTING procedures for people working with children are grossly inadequate, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Children warned yesterday.

TWO-THIRDS of beds at a centre for the State’s most troubled children remain unfilled, but staff and management say huge progress is being made at the troubled facility.

THE country’s only secure facility for troubled teenagers has been severely criticised by State inspectors.

Irish computer firm, SSI computer group was acquired by UK company, Morse plc for €4.7m.

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy has formally launched a special government scheme to encourage saving.