A new study has sounded a warning about the targeting and sexual exploitation of children and teenagers in the care of the State by co-ordinated gangs.
An urgent investigation is needed into the organised targeting by sexual predators of children in care, according to independent research which has taken testimony from frontline workers.
The research, from UCD's social policy school and based on interviews with staff and organisations working with children in care, found multiple cases where girls, some as young as 12, were being exploited by older men.
The call for an investigation by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is one of the main recommendations of the report 'Protecting Against Predators' by the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme (SERP).
HIQA needs to react urgently and quickly to any cases of suspected child exploitation among residents of State care homes, Ruth Breslin, Associate Researcher on the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme, has said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Breslin said more training, understanding and awareness of the risks are needed.
"Professionals need to have uncomfortable conversations about the issues," she said.
Researchers found evidence of predators grooming children and waiting at accommodation centres, including in hotel lobbies.
The report also calls for a new National Policy on the protection of children with sexual exploitation also included in the 'Children's First Guidelines'.
'Preying on their vulnerability'
Researchers from SERP interviewed workers from 14 agencies working with children and also consulted senior gardaí and officials at the child protection agency TUSLA.
"We heard about situations where cars would be lining up at night outside residential care homes," Ms Breslin said.
"It's very hard for them to really get to the bottom of what's going on.
"What's happening with some of these young girls is that they're saying 'I'm going out with my boyfriend'.
"Really what that is about is a predator, targeting that young person and ... preying on their vulnerability."
The findings of the report have been described as "harrowing" by its co-author Dr Mary Canning.
"They show the incredible challenge facing the people expected to protect some of the most vulnerable children in our country," she said.
"What they are witnessing in terms of targeting, grooming and sexual exploitation of children is harrowing.
"The need for policies, training and other supports to assist those on the frontline have been laid bare for all to see.
"What is needed now is action to ensure all children are protected from groups of men intent on committing crimes and harm."
The CEO of the Children's Rights Alliance has said she would like to know how many cases of suspected abuse of children in State care have been passed on to Tusla or gardaí.
Speaking on the same programme, Tanya Ward said she is surprised that suspected cases of exploitation of children in State homes have not been elevated.
She said an investigation must take place in order to understand the full extent and prevelance of the problem and that people working with vulnerable children in the care system need to understand that these issues are crimes.
If this is not the case, then there needs to be a national response and policy from the Government, she said.
'Weaknesses in the system'
An organisation representing young people in care called the report "very concerning" and highlighted weaknesses in the care system.
Conor Stitt, Research and Policy Manager with EPIC (Empowering Young People in Care), said: "The state is in loco parentis to these children - they have the responsibly for their welfare and their safety as any parent should have, but equally those who seek to exploit children will look for weaknesses in our child protection system.
"This report has highlighted a number of those weaknesses that are very concerning that this government should respond to and take very seriously.
"One is the inconsistency in inspection and audit of our residential care homes, some of which are inspected by HIQA, that were operated by Tusla, some are contracted by Tusla but also inspected by Tusla.
"The legislation that would address this has been under consideration for the last four years.
"Equally we have a diminishing cohort of fosters carers, diminishing numbers of social workers and social care.
"These are issues that could be addressed by the government in Budget 2024 and this report highlights very much so that we need to address these issues because we have weaknesses in the system."
Calls for 'full investigation'
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Children Kathleen Funchion also called for a full investigation by HIQA and Tulsa into the allegations.
In a statement, Ms Funchion said the report's findings are "extremely disturbing".
Ms Funchion said she would be writing to the minister to call for a national policy from the Government in reponse to the report and that its recommendations are "taken seriously".
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the study contained harrowing and appalling findings of systemic and orchestrated abuse.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, she said there was also a perception that authorities have become tired of dealing with the problem of girls in care and it was appalling that there was a lack of places to keep children safe.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath said the report contained deeply shocking and disturbing findings and said the Department of Children would prioritise a review of the findings of the study.
Tulsa, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice will also review it, he added.
Mr McGrath said that in the three years since the research for the study was carried out, there had been a number of important developments in the area to help the reporting of child sexual abuse.
Additional reporting by Sandra Hurley and Samantha Libreri
