Gardaí probe whether missing boy has been taken abroad after Tusla unable to locate him

Norma Foley confirmed Tusla could not locate the 10-year-old child before gardaí began inquiries into whether he left Ireland with his father

Despite evidence that the child was in Ireland in September, he did not return to school, and Tusla referred the case to gardaí in November. File picture

Gardaí are investigating whether a 10-year-old boy who stopped attending school has moved to another country after Tusla failed to locate him.

Despite evidence that the child was in Ireland in September, he did not return to school, and Tusla referred the case to gardaí in November.

Concerns about the child’s whereabouts were revealed by children’s minister Norma Foley on Wednesday as she confirmed that a National Review Panel report into another missing child, Kyran Durnin, could not be published.

She said she was unable to confirm how long gardaí have investigated the case, whether the child is a boy or a girl, the child’s age, where the child is from, when concerns were raised with Tusla, or if the child was alive.

However, less than two hours later, a spokesman for the minister confirmed that the case involved a 10-year-old boy and that gardaí are making “follow up inquiries” to ensure the child was moved abroad with his father.

“A ten-year-old boy who is a member of a family from another country was attending school in Ireland,” he said.

“He did not return to school in September. A school made a referral to the office run by 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.

“It takes referrals in relation to children who are absent from school for more than 20 days and about whom there is a concern in relation to the absences.

“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 then made to An Garda Síochána in November in line with procedures.

“The mother of the boy was interviewed by gardaí and confirmed the boy had left the country with his father and was now resident in another EU state. Gardaí are making follow-up inquiries to confirm this is the case.” 

Ms Foley said several steps have been taken since Kyran’s disappearance, including the establishment of a “children absent in education” section in Tusla.

“If a principal has a concern that a child didn't return after the holidays, or if a child was absent for a prolonged period of time, that would be immediately raised with this particular office, children absent in education,” she said.

“It's my understanding it was [established] around the summertime. There are a number of education welfare officers working in that particular office, and they then have the responsibility of locating that child, wherever that child may be.

“If that child is not located, it will become a matter for An Garda Síochána.

“To the best of my knowledge, one case [is under investigation]. I wouldn't have any further information in relation to that.”

When asked if the child was alive, Ms Foley said she “does not have the specifics”.