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Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, Norma Foley, has confirmed that as of 30 January 2025, a total of 36 children were reported missing from Tusla’s care.
This includes 33 Separated Children Seeking International Protection and Unaccompanied Minors, along with three children missing from Mainstream Care. Of the total 36 missing children, five went missing in the previous 3 days.
The information was provided by the Minister in response to a Parliamentary Question (PQ) from Independent TD Carol Nolan.
During the PQ, Minister Foley also noted that out of these 36 children, only two remain in contact with professionals or carers. She further explained that some unaccompanied minors who go missing from care have expressed their intention to travel to other countries to reunite with family members, while others never planned to stay in Ireland and leave shortly after arriving.
For those who do not inform Tusla of their whereabouts after leaving care, they are officially recorded as missing, and An Garda Síochána is notified, the Minister explained.
Deputy Nolan had requested details on the number of children who had gone missing from State care over the past year, along with a breakdown of how many were suspected to be victims of, or at risk of, sexual exploitation.
Before August 2023, data on missing children in care was not systematically compiled as part of Tusla’s national records but was instead kept within individual case files. However, this information is now manually gathered at specific points in time on a bi-weekly basis.
Minister Foley also clarified that when a missing child in care turns 18, they are no longer classified as “missing in care” under statutory definitions. While Tusla is no longer responsible for their case, they may still be listed as a missing person by An Garda Síochána if they have not yet been found.
“From a child welfare, child sexual exploitation and human trafficking perspective this information is profoundly alarming,” said Deputy Nolan.
“I have consistently highlighted these issues, not least since the publication of the landmark UCD SERP Scoping Report in 2023 which made it absolutely clear that the most vulnerable children in our care are being exposed to vicious levels of predatory behaviour.”
“I have no interest in engaging in a blame game on such a sensitive topic because we all need to be working collaboratively to ensure best practice is in place to protect children. Nevertheless, the fact clearly remains that we have an enormous and growing problem with children in care both national and non-national who are at risk of becoming prey to exploitative practices,” concluded Deputy Nolan.
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