An inspection report into Tusla's child protection services in the Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary area has found delays of up to nearly one year in carrying out preliminary inquiries, which should have been conducted within five days.
The Health Information and Quality Authority report also found there was an under-reporting of allegations of abuse from the child protection and welfare service to gardaí.
Inspectors escalated a total of ten cases during the inspection in order to seek immediate action where there was a potential risk to children.
The report also noted there had been some improvements to the service made since the last inspection two years ago.
