Tusla refers child missing from school to gardaí

Minister for children Norma Foley speaking to the media in relation to the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

A new office in Tusla, set up in the wake of Kyran Durnin’s disappearance, to locate children missing from school has referred the case of a 10-year-old boy to gardaí.

Gardaí have sought Interpol’s assistance in locating the child, who is believed to be in another country. 

They are not thought to have significant concerns based on initial reports.

Tusla was unable to locate the child and referred the case to gardaí in November.

At a press conference in Government Buildings, children’s minister Norma Foley said a “children absent in education” section has been established within Tusla, allowing principals to contact the agency.

Education welfare officers will then attempt to locate the child, referring the case to gardaí if they cannot do so.

Ms Foley confirmed gardaí are investigating one case. 

A spokesman later confirmed gardaí are probing whether a young boy has been taken abroad following Tusla’s failure to locate him.

He was attending school in Ireland, but did not return in September — despite Tusla confirming that he was in the State at the time. 

The school made a referral to the “office run by the Tusla education support service to investigate children who are absent from education”.

“This centralised office was established in July and is staffed with two educational welfare officers,” the spokesman said.

“The Tusla office carried out its own checks, and established that the child had been in Ireland in September. It made a formal report to International Social Services, but it was unable to confirm the child’s current location.”

A referral was made to gardaí in November, with the child’s mother informing gardaí he “left the country with his father and was now resident in another EU state”.

Gardaí expect, through Interpol and police in the country concerned, to be able to locate the child.

It comes as Ms Foley said a review into the case of Kyran Durnin, who is missing presumed dead, cannot be published while a murder investigation is ongoing.