Fall in cases of kids taken into care

The number of incidents of children being removed from the care of their parents or guardians by gardaí over fears for their safety recorded a sharp decrease last year.

However, there was a significant increase in cases across the three Garda divisions in Cork, notably in Cork North where incidents more than doubled.

Figures show there was a 23% reduction in the number of cases where children were taken into protective care by the State during 2014.