An Independent Ireland councillor has called on Children’s Minister Norma Foley to explain why vulnerable children in State care continue to be sexually exploited, amid revelations in court of two teenage girls being abused by multiple adult men.
Cllr Linda de Courcy said urgent action was needed following a series of disturbing court cases involving girls in Tusla’s care, including a 14-year-old with a mild learning disability who was allegedly being sexually exploited by multiple men.
The High Court heard on October 20 that Tusla had been unable to secure a place for the girl in any of the State’s three special care units, despite the seriousness of the risks she faced.
Mr Justice John Jordan described the abuse as “abhorrent” and directed that details of the case, alongside that of another teenage girl experiencing similar exploitation, be brought to the attention of the Ministers for Children, Justice and Public Expenditure.
The revelations came amid concerns over the availability of secure special care accommodation, with just 15 of the country’s 26 special care beds currently operational.
Staffing shortages have been cited as the reason for the remaining 11 beds being unavailable.
Further concerns emerged on November 3, when the Dublin District Childcare Court heard that a 17-year-old girl in Tusla’s care was being collected from her placement in prepaid taxis and transported to hotels and private residences, where she was sexually exploited by adult men in exchange for alcohol and drugs.
The court heard that up to 30 men were involved.
Judge Conor Fottrell said he had not previously encountered child sexual exploitation on such a scale in his court, adding that similar cases were regularly coming before the courts.
He called on State agencies to address the issue as a matter of urgency and expressed disbelief that Tusla’s special care committee had previously declined to seek a High Court order to detain the teenager in special care.
Responding to the cases, Cllr de Courcy said the State was failing in its responsibility to protect children placed in its care.
“When the State takes a child into care, it takes on the duty of a parent. It is failing that duty,” she said.
She also criticised the Government over delays in making all 26 special care beds operational.
Budget 2026 included a commitment of €26 million to ensure all 26 beds would be open by the end of this year. However, according to de Courcy, the target has now been pushed back to 2028, with 11 beds still closed.
“For these children, that is a lifetime away. They are being abused today,” she said.
“Responsibility for Tusla rests with the Minister. Regret, plans and recruitment difficulties are no comfort to a child waiting for a bed while she is being abused.”
Cllr de Courcy is calling for an urgent multi-agency response involving Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice to investigate the exploitation and prosecute those responsible.
The councillor also called for a review of decisions relating to special care applications, arguing that children facing serious and ongoing risks should not be left in unsafe placements while decisions are being considered.
Cllr de Courcy further wants Minister Foley to appear before the relevant Oireachtas committee to explain the failure to meet the Government’s commitment on special care bed capacity.
“The Minister must act now, and she must be honest with the public about when these children will be safe,” she said.