HSE offical to appear before Oireachtas committee

A HSE official will later appear before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to answer questions on the number of children who have died while in the care of the State.

HSE Director for Primary, Community and Continuing Care Laverne McGuinness told the committee last March that there were 20 such cases over the past 10 years.

However, it emerged last Friday that 188 children or young adults are now known to have died while in contact with social services or in State care during that time frame.

"Even though the information was proven to be inaccurate subsequently, we didn't have any communication from the HSE correcting inaccurate information that was provided to use," said PAC chairman Deputy Bernard Allen.

"That is as serious as the original error."