Child protection failings: Reasons why children were removed

Away from the harrowing personal stories, the audit shows the reasons why many children are removed from their home - the dangers posed to their health and wellbeing either because of their own behaviour or, more likely, those around them.

Some 595 incidents were reported in 2014, 560 of which were valid, involving 504 children. The audit analysed the cases and built a profile of those who become the subject of a section 12 action.

A large percentage of the children, over 77.4%, are Irish. The largest foreign-national grouping comprised Nigerian children - 24 children or 4.4% of the total involved. Ten children were of Romanian nationality but the audit notes, that in 29 instances, the nationality of the child is not recorded on PULSE.