Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

More than 200 children either in State care or known to State care services have died since 2014. One fifth of them died by suicide, many more died of drug overdoses and 11 of those children were murdered. It is incredible that more than 5% of the children in State care or known to State care services have been murdered. Does the Taoiseach agree?

A national review panel that investigated these deaths had alarming things to say about the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. On a number of occasions, CAMHS has refused to accept children referred by Tusla because it only accepts children with treatable or diagnosed mental illness and it also has a policy of refusing to treat children who use drugs and alcohol. These are not children who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, but those who use them. Some of these children died by suicide. There is something seriously wrong with the system. The Taoiseach will agree.

We will hear many TDs speak shortly about child protection and it will be highly charged and political, but it is incredible that 200 children known to or in State care have died in the past ten years. I believe that if many of them came from leafy suburbs or had parents who were well-to-do, had power and could influence debate, their cases would be far higher in the political priorities of the country. The fact is that these children do not have people to speak for them. They do not come from money or from a background of power. I urge the Taoiseach to take the issue of children in State care seriously.

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