‘Social services shortcomings being identified’

An independent review into the deaths of 23 children who were in contact with HSE social services last year shows that some children need to be taken into care earlier, Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said.

While seven of the record number of deaths were the result of natural causes, nine were the result of suicide. Six deaths were caused by accidents and there was one homicide.

Most of the children or young people were living with families who were known to child protection services. A small number were either in the care system or in after-care.