Almost 200 Children Have Died While In State Care Over Nine Years

Friday, 31 March 2023 10:33

By Caoimhe Harney

New figures show 23 children have died while in state care since 2014.

199 children have died while in state care, or while known to Tusla's child protection services, since 2014.

A fifth have been officially classified as suicides.

These new figures have been released to Aontu leader Peadar Toibin, in response to a parliamentary question.

They show 23 children have died while in state care since 2014.

Almost half - 11 - were as a result of natural causes, and eight were as a result of suicide.

The remaining deaths were as a result of either medical conditions or substance abuse.

A further 176 children have died since 2014 while known to Tusla's child protection services.

84 were due to natural causes and 30 were suicides.

The remaining deaths were categorised as homicides, drug overdoses, road traffic accidents, other accidents, and unknown causes of death.

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