Cowen: Legislation needed to release files for child-deaths probe

The Taoiseach has told the Dáil he believes legislation will be needed to allow a special review group to obtain files to look into the deaths of children in State care.

Brian Cowen has admitted this evening that, at this stage, he does not know how many children have died in State care in the last 10 years.

One weekend report suggested that as many as 200 children have died in State care. The HSE has denied that, saying the number is unlikely to far exceed the figure it initially released - 23.

The HSE added that it would be the end of next month before it had a complete list.