A HSE-funded settlement package worth €6.3m has been approved for a woman with serious intellectual disabilities known as Grace.

The woman was left in the care of a foster family for 20 years in an allegedly abusive situation.

Speaking on Newstalk Drive, court reporter with the Irish Times Mary Carolan said the HSE apologised to the woman in court for the failings in her care:

"It's intended to ensure Grace is looked after appropriately for the rest of her life," she said. "They also apologised for what they said were 'very serious failings' in their care and that actions had been taken about remedying such situations."

In March, the Dáil has heard claims that the foster family at the centre of the Grace case still had children in its care until 2015.

Grace was withdrawn from the home in 2009 over fears of alleged sexual abuse at the home in the south-east.

The claims were made in the Dáil by Independents4Change TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly, as they voted on the terms of reference for the Grace inquiry.