Govt to receive data on HSE child deaths

The Government will today be informed as to the number of children who have died in State care over the past 10 years.

It is expected the previously declared figure of 23 to the end of last year will be confirmed, with a further six children having died in the first months of this year.

Up to two days ago the HSE claimed it could not confirm the number of children who have died in State care until the end of next month.

But a showdown last Wednesday with the Taoiseach and Ministers for Health and Children saw them state they believed in the original figure of 23 up to the end of 2009, and that they would give final confirmation to Government today.

It has also been revealed that six children died in State care in the early months of this year.

Children's Minister Barry Andrews has said that as soon as he is given the figures by the HSE today, he will make the number public.

Attention will now switch to the review of these deaths and the legislation necessary to allow the HSE hand over the files on each case to an independent review panel.