A new report has raised concerns about child neglect cases in Ireland.

Carried out on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE) by Lynne Peyton, a consultant in children's services and social care, the research discovered that although parents are being brought to the attention of gardai for drug and alcohol abuse, very few are being prosecuted, the Irish Examiner reports.

It was found that before being removed from their home, young people often had to have also been mistreated in another way, through physical or sexual abuse, for example.

Jennifer Gargan, director of the charity Empowering People in Care, commented: "It is frightening but not surprising that for many families the circumstances for children did not improve despite the involvement of statutory services."

According to the report - which was carried out in April, but only released now - the HSE's management of neglect cases needs to be called into question in Roscommon, Dublin South East and Waterford in particular. 

Written by Donal Walsh

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