More than 2,100 children have been put into care by the courts, according to a report published today.
In its second review of family law, the Courts Service reported there are 5,060 youngsters either fostered or in care homes around the country.
Children living in the east of the county are more likely to end up in care than those in the west, the report finds.
Some 2,175 children in care were put there by the courts, the rest are there voluntarily.
Judge Conal Gibbons, one of the judges who hears child care cases, said the children coming before the courts are extremely vulnerable.
"I describe these children as being on the edge; they are on the edge of society, on the edge of their families, on the edge of the care system and often on the edge of their lives," he said.
"It just takes one little push to put them over the precipice."
The Family Law Mattersreport compiled by Dr Carol Coulter is the second in a series of studies aimed at shining a light on the previously private area of the courts.
It noted the main reasons children are in care: neglect 1,386; physical abuse, 290; sexual abuse, 159; emotional abuse, 147; and emotional and behavioural problems, 134.
It noted that mental health problems or intellectual disabilities account for 19 kids in care while nine had drugs or alcohol problems; eight had physical illness or disabilities seven fell pregnant and four were caught up in crime.
Of the 5,060 children in care only 442 are in residential care with the vast majority being in foster care and 32 cared for at home under supervision.
Chief Justice John L Murray praised the judges working in the difficult area of family law.
"Family law is one of the most difficult areas in which the courts have to function," the judge said.
"Judges in family law courts regularly have to deal with intractable problems arising from human failings and weaknesses where there is no ideal solution - where there is the difficult search for the best solution in all the circumstances - and also even more difficult, often heartrending, cases where there is serious neglect or abuse of children.
"The dedication of judges sitting in family law courts in dealing with these intractable issues, should not be underestimated. It is essential that these courts have available all the professional assistance necessary to their work, particularly where the interests of children are at stake."
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said he was particularly interested to read about how the courts apply certain legal provisions in a number of the custody and access cases reported.
In relation to settlements in family law cases, the Minister noted that settlement was achieved in 90 per cent of cases in Dublin last October. All of the cases heard in Cork Circuit Court that month ended in settlement.
"As Dr Coulter points out, however, some of these cases may have been hard fought or part heard prior to settlement. But it is good to know that parties, for the most part, are agreeing matters for themselves and are avoiding the inevitable trauma that is the court," Mr Lenihan added.
"Reporting of general trends in family law cases must, of necessity, be based on a considerable number of such cases and this will take time to emerge. However this Report, alongside other research currently in progress, is the start of an information flow on family law cases and will greatly assist future policy formulation in the family law area."
Mr Lenihan congratulated Dr Coulter for her "excellent work" which he said had proved a rich source of information in a short period of time.
The third family law report will focus on the District Courts where a large volume of family law cases are heard.
PA