The Director of the Child Care Law Reporting Project has said there is a lack of joined-up thinking when it comes to State agencies dealing with child protection.
Dr Carol Coulter said in cases where criminal and child protection investigations run side by side, it can result in children being over interviewed.
She explained that in cases of alleged serious abuse, gardaí will want to interview the children.
However, social workers and specialist units would also want to carry out interviews to verify the claims and establish what, if any, help and therapeutic supports the children might need.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said there were models elsewhere where a single person carries out the interview but with input from all interested agencies.
She said another option that should be examined was joint interviewing.
Dr Coulter also said there is a severe lack of psychiatric and psychological facilities for children who display mental health problems.
She said that it can take years to get appropriate care for children with mental health problems.
