Very few parents are prosecuted for criminal neglect despite coming to the attention of gardaí for drug and alcohol abuse, a report examining the management of neglect cases reveals.

Chronic under-staffing of psychology services in Co Roscommon left 180 children waiting one to two years to be seen and prevented psychologists from assessing parents ability to care for their children.

THE two eldest children in the Roscommon abuse case are to launch a legal action against the HSE for vicarious liability, the Irish Examiner understands.