A report published by the independent watchdog, HIQA, raises concerns for children in foster care in the Dublin South, West/Wicklow, Kildare region.

The report highlights that for many children in this area outcomes were positive.

However there are still notable concerns identified - in particular, there were a substantial number of children without an allocated social worker.

A number of foster carers hadn’t had any visits from social workers, and some allegations of mistreatment against foster parents weren’t investigated.

On top of that, the report states that not all foster carers have been vetted by Gardaí.

EPIC, an independent association that works with and for children and young people living in care, said it's concerned the rights of children in care are not being fulfilled.