Hiqa: Young residents at care centre in south of country went missing nearly 180 times

Overall, the report said the centre was operating well, even though some of the young people living there were originally from areas a long distance from the facility

At the time of the Hiqa inspection last January, there were three young people residing at the centre and every incident of a child going missing had to be reported to gardaí. File photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

A residential centre for up to three young people in care recorded 179 incidents of people going missing over a 12-month period.

An inspection report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found that the Tusla-run centre, located in the south of the country, was operated to a high standard and was substantially in compliance with a variety of standards, but that it needed more effective systems to deal with risks, including that of young people leaving the centre without permission.