One child in HSE system dies every fortnight

More than 70 vulnerable children and teens either in HSE care or who recently left the system have died since the start of 2010 — the equivalent of almost one fatality every fortnight.

The shock situation is revealed in nine detailed HSE reports into Ireland’s childcare and social services, which underline repeated failures by the State to ensure the safety of at-risk children.

The documents catalogue a series of concerns such as inadequate staff levels, delays in addressing sex abuse claims, drug addiction, and missing files.