Taoiseach describes 'litany of shame' in report on child deaths

The Taoiseach has described an independent report into the deaths of children in State care as a "harrowing tale and a litany of shame".

Mr Kenny said the report is analyses of the lives of 196 children known to social social services during the Celtic Tiger boom.

The report, by child law expert Geoffrey Shannon and Norah Gibbons, of Barnardos, will be published this afternoon by Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald, who has described it as "harrowing".

Mr Kenny told the Dáil that each was a story of shame and many focused on complex social issues, including with family circumstances, drugs and mental health.

"This is obviously an independent report and I commend Geoffrey Shannon and Norah Gibbons for the clarity and the research and the analysis that they have carried out in respect of what is a harrowing tale and a litany of shame in many respects, that's happened here," he said.

The report found more than 110 youngsters known to the Health Service Executive (HSE) who died between 2000 and 2010 were from unnatural causes including murder, suicide, drugs and road traffic accidents.

Mr Kenny said his Fine Gael/Labour Coalition had not put an end to all the difficulties outlined in the report, but had appointed a senior Minister for Children, given a guarantee for a children's referendum and was setting up a child protection agency.

He stressed Ms Fitzgerald wanted the report published "so the truth be known".

"Clearly, from the reading of the report, there were multiple agencies involved and children, unfortunately, were not receptiants of the kind of care and attention [required]," he added.

It is understood the report, which is several hundred pages long, is critical of child protection services and calls for independent inquiries into some cases.