HSE acknowledges child support failings

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has today acknowledged failing in child protection structures and work practices.

The admission comes after the publication earlier today of a review into the death of 196 young people who were in contact with State services between 2000 and 2010.

The report of the Independent Child Death Review group covers the deaths of the young people in contact with the State’s child-protection services between 2000 and 2010.

Of the 196 deaths, some 112 died of non-natural causes such as drug overdoses, suicides, road traffic incidents or unlawful killings.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the HSE's national director of Children and Family Services Gordon Jeyes said he strongly supported the report's recommendations on the need for a more effective multi-disciplinary partnership among those who provide services to vulnerable young people.

“All of us working in Children Protection and Welfare are committed to the delivery of a high quality service that is accountable, consistent, and transparent and always puts the needs of children first," he said.

Offering his sympathy and condolences to those affected by the deaths covered in the report, Mr Jeyes said it was important to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths so that lessons could be learned.

He said that the recommendations included in the review would be considered as part of the ongoing reform programme in child protection services and said that some of the recommendations, including the establishment of a national review panel and managerial changes, had already been introduced.