The State's only Detention School for children has been criticised by HIQA for the manner in which it kept a boy in single separation for 27 hours over a period of three days.
The pre-announced inspection by Health Information and Quality Authority inspectors of Oberstown in north Dublin took place over a four-day period last November.
At the time 47 boys and one girl were receiving care and education there having been committed or remanded by the courts when they were aged between ten and 17 in the case of boys and up to 18 in the case of girls.
HIQA's report, published this morning, underlines that the institution's statutory responsibility is to promote children's welfare and protect those who are deemed to be at risk of harm.
However, it found significant risks were posed by restrictive practices employed by staff.
It said that following a number of significant incidents in the second half of last year - including attempts to self-harm, staff assaults and serious property damage to the units and the school - a management review found that a number of practices needed to cease with immediate effect.
These included staff operating outside the approved procedures for management of behaviour, for example moving children by lifting them in a way that endangered them.
The report found that recording of single separations was poor and a number of incidents were reviewed including that of the boy kept in single separation for more than 27 hours.
Records did not show that single separation was the least restrictive practice attempted or what other interventions were tried with the boy and inspectors were concerned that there was "inadequate evidence to indicate that it was required for the entire period of time recorded".
The watchdog says management at Oberstown had issued clear directives to cease certain restrictive practices, including lifting a child in a way that would be dangerous.
The directive to cease this and other methods of physical restraint was issued six days before November's inspection.
Significant risks were also found in relation to fire safety.
Inspectors urged the immediate installation of an adequate smoke detection system in two bedrooms.
Tthey also found that fire policy and its application in the older units were not subject to an independent annual review as required by building regulations.
Of the ten standards assessed by HIQA, the facility met only one; was required to make improvements in seven; and significant risks were identified in relation to two: fire safety and staffing and management.
