Seven-fold increase in child neglect reports from direct provision centre managers

Commending the direct provision centre managers who fulfilled their obligations by making reports to Tusla, the Ombudsman for Children Niall Muldoon, said children ought not be at risk in such centres. 

There was a more than seven-fold increase in mandated reports of child neglect in direct provision centres last year.

Direct provision centre managers reported 15 cases of child neglect to Tusla in 2020, in comparison to just two cases of neglect in both 2018 and 2019. There were also two cases of sexual abuse, five cases of physical abuse, and seven cases of emotional abuse of a child or children reported to Tusla by direct provision centre managers last year.