A detailed inspection of the high-support unit for children, Newtown House in Co Wicklow, will begin on Monday.
The inspection, to be carried out by the Social Services Inspectorate, will include an examination of events leading to the absconding from the unit of a 15-year-old girl, Kim O'Donovan, in July. She was found dead of a suspected drug overdose in a Dublin city-centre B & B on August 24th, about three weeks after she absconded.
The inspection was requested by Ms Mary Hanafin, Minister of State for children, following complaints from the parents of a boy who had been resident at the unit until late 1998.