Inspections find vulnerable children had no social worker and waiting lists for assessments of potential and convicted child sex offenders

Inspections watchdog Hiqa has expressed serious concern over the management of potential child sex abusers in Co Donegal and over some children at risk of harm not having a social worker.

The findings are included in a child protection and welfare report for the Donegal service area, which outlined how a lack of resources is hampering child welfare services in the county.

According to the report, there were waiting lists for assessments of alleged and convicted offenders who may pose a risk to children. “Although efforts were made to identify, assess and manage risks posed by alleged or convicted offenders in the community, early warning systems to identify organised abuse were not robust enough. Delayed risk assessments meant that immediate risks to children may not have been identified and managed by the service.”