'More services needed' as childcare orders soar, annual report shows

Cork courthouse on Washington St. The Courts Service 2025 annual report reveals that 14 juveniles were detained for rape, 17 for other serious sexual offences, and two for murder/attempted murder. File picture: David Creedon/Anzenberger

Childcare orders increased significantly last year, including a 24% jump in emergency cases involving an “immediate and serious risk” to a child.

Court Service figures also reveal a continuing rise in domestic violence orders, up 9% in 2025, and 34% over the last seven years.

There were 33 juveniles detained by the Central Criminal Court — which deals with the most serious of sexual offences and homicides — in 2025.

The Courts Service 2025 annual report reveals that 14 juveniles were detained for rape, 17 for other serious sexual offences, and two for murder/attempted murder.

There was an overall 14% increase in new sexual offences, which the report said could be linked to a greater level of reporting.

There was an 18% increase in the total number of childcare orders, from 15,372 in 2024 to 18,198 in 2025. This includes: 

• A 24% increase in emergency care orders (279 in 2024 to 345 in 2025),
• A 28% rise in interim orders (1,013 to 1,299),
• A 34% increase in care orders (927 to 1,241), 
• And a 61% jump in supervision orders (310 to 498).

Commenting, Barnardos national policy manager Stephen Moffatt said: “The continued rise in child care cases before the courts shows there is more and more pressure being placed on the child protection system.

“This raises a greater need for services that are equipped to meet the complex needs of children who are the focus of care proceedings, and services which can help address the contributing factors that have led to proceedings such as parental mental health, parental addiction and domestic abuse.” 

The annual report says the number of domestic violence orders rose from 25,270 in 2024 to 27,429 in 2025.

In the criminal courts, there were 5,181 domestic violence cases in 2025, the bulk of which were dealt with summarily before the District Court.

Mr Moffatt said the rise in domestic violence cases was “deeply concerning” and echoed their experience.

“Nearly one third of children we support in our targeted services (31%) are either living in or have lived in households experiencing domestic violence,” he said. “This equated to more than 1,500 children last year.” 

Living with domestic violence is traumatic and has a significant detrimental impact on children’s current and future safety, health and wellbeing.

The Circuit Court had 2,148 incoming sexual offence cases, 23 domestic violence cases and 63 child abuse cases. The Central Criminal Court had 1,150 incoming sexual offence cases, 990 rape cases and six domestic violence cases.

Of the 444 concluded rape cases in this court in 2025, 259 (58%) involved sentences of ten years or more.

The report said there was an 8% increase in drug cases, totalling around 30,000 cases, before the District Court.

Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said this had the effect of “increasing the workload” of the District Court.

The report said that of the 30,018 offences, 21,399 (70%) were indictable offences (which could be dealt with in the higher Circuit Court) but dealt with summarily (before District Court).

A further 3,490 offences (12%) were sent forward for trial, to Circuit Court.

• Cormac O’Keeffe is Security Correspondent.