Tusla reports doubling of children in State care who may have been targeted for sexual exploitation

A spokeswoman for Tusla said: 'Tusla partnered with MECPATHS (an organisation which works with agencies to counter child trafficking) in early 2022 to provide frontline staff across our services with training on how to recognise indicators of Child Trafficking in Ireland, thus increasing the agency’s capacity to respond to this evolving area of need.'

The number of reports of young people suspected of being at risk of sexual exploitation while in State care more than doubled last year, according to latest figures from Tusla.

The Child and Family Agency has revealed to the Irish Examiner that 50 such reports were notified to gardaí and the agency last year — up from 22 the previous year. Up to early May, 14 such reports have been made this year.