'Most return' - 35 children in Tusla care deemed missing at any one time since 2023

On average, between 34 and 35 children in Tusla's care have been deemed missing every fortnight since 2023, according to figures released by the organisation through the Freedom of Information Act 2014. 

The alarming figure has been revealed following a number of serious controversies involving Tusla and children in their care. On Thursday, 30 October a protest was held outside the organisation's office in Dublin after the alleged assault of a 10-year-old child who was in their care outside an accommodation centre for asylum seekers. Also in October, a boy was fatally stabbed at Tusla's emergency residential unit in Donaghmede, County Dublin which housed unaccompanied children seeking International Protection.

Again, Tusla was put under the spotlight at the end of August this year as an investigation was launched by gardaí into the disappearance of Daniel Aruebose. Tusla had alerted An Garda Síochána to the case, however the child was believed to be missing since 2021 when he was just three-years-old. Tusla had been involved with Daniel and his family up until 2020. Daniel's skeletal remains were discovered in north County Dublin in September.

This was the second incident wherein a child involved with the organisation had disappeared for a number of years as in August of last year Kyran Durnin was reported missing in Drogheda, County Louth. Similarly, Kyran, who would now be nine-years-old, was missing for around two years before it was reported. An Garda Síochána believe that the child may have died when he was just six-years-old. Although he was not in Tusla's care, they had engaged with Kyran and his family.

Daniel Aruebose (left) and Kyran Durnin (right)

The new data released by Tusla dates from 28 September 2023 right up until 11 September 2025. The Child and Family Agency explained that such data in relation to children reported missing from care became part of national metrics in September 2023. The number of children reported missing from their care is gathered on a biweekly basis. 

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The biweekly reports throughout this period are broken into two categories: the number of missing children in the mainstream care population and Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP). The reports captures the number of children at the time of each report.

At one point in September 2024, the number of missing children reported spiked at 47. The lowest number recorded in one of the biweekly reports was 24, still a significant amount of children unaccounted for in State care.

The number of missing SCSIP within this timeframe is significantly higher than children in mainstream care, with the average number of missing SCSIP between 24 and 25 each fortnight in comparison to the average 9 or 10 in the biweekly reports of missing children in mainstream care.

However, the figures for mainstream children are notably incomplete. Four biweekly reports covering eight weeks between October and December 2023 are missing from the data due to industrial action. As well as this, seven reports covering 14 weeks of data from December 2023 until March 2024 exclude figures from one unspecified area in the country due to the continued industrial action. 

What this means is that the figures for children in mainstream care are not exact due to this missing data, meaning the average biweekly figure may be higher. Consequently, the average amount of reported cases of children missing from Tusla's care, which is calculated to be between 34 and 35 without these figures, could also be greater.

In response to the Freedom of Information request, Tusla stated: "Where a child or young person is deemed missing, Tusla maintains active engagement with An Garda Síochána and continues all possible efforts to contact and trace the missing young person in line with An Garda Síochána/Tusla Joint Protocol."

The organisation defined the process of reporting a child or young person missing and how this is managed, saying: "Under the protocol, An Garda Síochána are notified once a young person is deemed missing and after Tusla and the young person’s carers have made all reasonable efforts to locate them.

"Once a young person has been reported missing, An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for investigating the young person’s whereabouts. In certain situations, where a child is absent from their care placement for more than 15 minutes they may be reported as ‘missing’ from care under the Joint Protocol. This could be for a range of reasons, such as missing their curfew or not returning to their placement at an agreed time."

They continued: "Throughout the Garda investigation, however, the young person’s social worker and carers continue to make enquiries with people known to the young person who may be able to assist with the investigation. All information gathered through these enquiries is passed onto An Garda Síochána. Most young people reported as ‘missing’ return to their placement after a brief period of time and remain in a safe and caring environment."

What may be considered an explanation for the drastically higher figure of missing SCSIP during this period, Tusla said: "Some unaccompanied minors who go missing from care communicate their intention to travel on to other countries to join family members and some indicate that it was never their intention to remain in Ireland and leave soon after they arrive in the country. For those who do not subsequently make us aware of their whereabouts, these young people are counted as missing and An Garda Síochána are notified accordingly."

In an effort to protect such children, Tusla stated that an additional strategic focus has been introduced in coordination with An Garda Síochána through the development of an integrated management forum. According to Tusla, the forum "aims to enhance coordination in responses to missing young people and those at risk of trafficking or exploitation, and facilitates the sharing of expertise, emerging trends, and learning between Tusla and An Garda Síochána’s National Protective Services."