Children as young as four being placed in residential care, report finds

The report raised concerns about the number of cases 'where the child was considered by the professionals involved in his or her care to be at imminent risk of sexual exploitation (including from non-family members), exploitation for criminal purposes, or engaging in dangerous behaviour, such as joyriding.' File picture

Children as young as four years old are being placed in residential care because there is no foster carer available, while there is a waiting list for admission to the country’s 15 special care beds, according to the latest report from the Child Law Project.

The report, 'Falling Through the Cracks: An Analysis of Child Care Proceedings from 2021 to 2024', analysed more than 340 child care cases across the country.