Tusla still has “major problems” to fix in the wake of the Kyran Durnin case, Aontú has argued.
Last summer, the Louth boy was reported missing to authorities, having not been seen since 2022.
What started as a missing person’s investigation has since been upgraded by Gardaí into a murder investigation.
The case was also referred to the National Review Panel (NRP), who investigate whenever a child in care or known to social services dies or experiences a serious incident.
NPR Head Dr Helen Buckley has now revealed that it is the review’s "overarching conclusion" that what happened to Kyran "could not have been anticipated from knowledge that was available" to Tusla.
However, the review cannot be published in full at this point in time, following advice from the Attorney General.
Minister for Children Norma Foley said the full report has the "potential to prejudice any potential prosecutions".
On Newstalk Breakfast, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said he found the report’s conclusions “quite surprising”.
“I do accept that it is impossible for Tusla staff to protect children in every single circumstance,” he said.
“We’ve always been of the view that we have a job of work in this country in terms of actually strengthening families to ensure that children are better protected.
“I do believe that it is still quite surprising that this particular view was reported.
“It was reported in the media at the time that in the shocking case of Kyran Durnin that another child was presented and posed as Kyran while the family were engaging with Tusla.
“While that wasn’t picked up straight away, it is problematic.”
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Deputy Tóibín continued that it is regrettable that reforms to the reporting school absences to Tusla were not introduced sooner.
“We didn’t have our school system synced with Tusla in terms of children going missing,” he said.
“In the horrendous case of Daniel Aruebose, the only reason that that came to light was because of a social welfare payment.
“We do need to make sure that all the different systems in this country are fully linked so we know what’s happening to children.
“On the basis of what’s happening to Tusla in general, there’s no doubt; 230 children have died in Tusla [care] or known to Tusla within 10 years.
“10 of them were murdered, 51 died of suicide or drug overdose and there’s actually 37 children missing right now.”
Overall, Deputy Tóibín concluded there are still “major problems that we have to fix in relation to Tusla”.
Tusla has been contacted for comment.
Main image: Split of Kyran Durnin and a Tusla sign.
