Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this very important issue. Children reported missing from care are recognised as being among the most vulnerable in society. It is always concerning where a child appears to be missing or has absconded from care, even for a short period of time. Tusla has a statutory responsibility under the Child Care Act 1991 for children in care, and the agency collects information regarding the number of children who go missing or abscond from a placement.

Missing children in care is an issue which covers both mainstream services for children in the care of Tusla and separated children seeking international protection, SCSIP. The Department of children receives fortnightly reports from the Tusla SCSIP service that includes the most recent statistics on referrals to the service, the number of admissions to care, placement types and the numbers missing from care. The latest data received from the Tusla SCSIP service on children missing from care, as of 4 July, indicates that 33 children are missing from care, of whom 22 are missing from Tusla’s SCSIP service and 11 are missing from mainstream care. Of the total of 33 children in care who are currently missing, nine went missing in 2023 and 24 went missing in 2024. Of the 22 SCSIP children currently missing, 21 have been missing for over two weeks. All of the 11 children currently missing from mainstream care have been missing for less than two weeks.

The vast majority of young people in the SCSIP service reported as missing are over 16 years of age. Some children or young people who go missing from care communicate their intention to travel on to other countries to join family members, and some indicate that it was never their intention to remain in Ireland and leave soon after they arrive in the country. Nonetheless, those young people who do not subsequently make Tusla aware of their whereabouts are counted as missing and An Garda Síochána is notified accordingly.

Nonetheless, for those who do not subsequently make Tusla aware of their whereabouts, these young people are counted as missing and An Garda Síochána is notified accordingly. Tusla and An Garda Síochána work together collaboratively on children missing in care cases through the An Garda Síochána -Tusla joint working protocol on missing children. Most of the children and young people reported missing return to their placement after a brief period of time and remain in a safe and caring environment. It is important to note that where a child is absent from their residential care placement for more than 15 minutes they may be reported as missing from care under the joint protocol. This could be for a range of reasons, such as missing their curfew or not returning to their placement at an agreed time. This joint protocol is being reviewed and updated by Tusla and An Garda Síochána. Once An Garda Síochána is notified that a child is deemed missing, and once a child has been reported absent, the Garda has primary responsibility for investigating the child’s whereabouts. While the Garda has primary responsibility for investigating once a child is reported missing, Tusla staff maintain regular contact with the Garda throughout the investigation, and pass on all relevant information to assist in the safe return of the child. Tusla also prepares an absence management plan for each child in care. This plan is a tool to manage the risk in the event of a child going missing. The Garda national missing persons unit has oversight over a Garda investigation on the ongoing attempts to locate the child, including liaison with Interpol if there is a concern that the child has left the jurisdiction.

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