Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)

Daniel Aruebose's remains were found in Donabate yesterday. He had been in State care but he was returned to his family and it appears that there were no follow-up checks. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see such a young boy lose his life. Since 2014, 239 children in State care or known to State care have died. Ten of those were murdered and 51 died as a result of drug overdoses or suicide. Today 37 children who are in State care or are known to State care are missing. Judge Simms wrote to the Government about child protection issues before and the Government shredded those files for GDPR reasons.

Judge Fottrell said it was shocking and appalling that Tusla had failed to inform the courts that 250 children were without the assigned social workers. The children's ombudsman has slammed the absence of a statutory power to investigate these deaths. Some national review panel reports are not being published and many of the recommendations are not being implemented. UCD has completed a study which shows that children in State care are being exposed to sex exploitation by gangs.

I have raised the Kyran Durnin case, as well as the cases of Hugh, Niamh, Eva and Luke. I also raised the case of the 14-year-old girl who, within an hour of being put into State care, went missing and was found locked in a brothel one year afterwards. I and so many other people have been raising these issues for the past six years. The reality is that the Government has not been listening to the experts on this. Will the Government ensure we have the power in this country to protect children?

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