Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise concerns regarding the child mortality rate under the care of Tusla in light of the suspected murder of eight-year-old Kyran Durnin in County Louth. Kyran was reported missing along with his mother to An Garda Síochána on 30 August 2024, as having been last seen on or around 28 August 2024. The whereabouts of Kyran are still unknown.

The annual report for the national review panel reported that 29 young people in care or after care or known to Tusla died last year. That is an increase of six compared to 2022 as the latest data shows. Of those 29 deaths, 18 were from natural causes, four were suicides, five were a result of accidents and in two cases the cause was unknown. A look-back at the 14-year period from 2010 to 2023 during which 315 children and young people died shows that while 139, or 44%, of the children died of natural causes, almost one in four, or 22%, which is 70 children, died as a result of suicide.

I welcome the Minister's intervention in seeking the files from Tusla regarding Kyran Durnin. However, all children who died in the care of Tusla, be it in State care, State residential care or foster care placements, need justice as well to ensure there are no shortfalls within Tusla to avoid these deaths. These deaths do not account for children who may have been under Tusla care and living with parents or guardians but who also died as a result of a lack of intervention from Tusla. This is really important. As a foster parent, I feel strongly about this. I had a child in my care for an emergency placement and I got a call from the social workers involved a year and a half later to say that child had died by suicide. This is really important. Children are dying while they are under the watch of the State. If we could call for an inquiry into all deaths that took place under Tusla, I would really appreciate it.