Parents have been warned to monitor their children’s Facebook accounts after gardaí confirmed they are investigating inappropriate approaches made to three teenage girls.

Gardaí are taking more than three years to process some prosecutions for child pornography, it has emerged.

A children’s charity admitted today it was struggling to reach out to vulnerable teenagers who were calling for emotional support in record numbers.

MORE and more Irish families are turning to parenting courses and outside expertise in a bid to get all the help they can when raising children.

GOOD communication is the key to keeping a young child safe, a child expert stressed yesterday.