The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, has said it previously alerted gardaí to a significant concern about Kyran Durnin, who is now missing presumed dead.
A search operation is continuing this evening at a house in Dundalk, Co Louth that is known to have been the family home of the eight-year-old, who gardaí believe may have been killed up to two years ago.
In a statement this evening, Tusla said that while Kyran Durnin was not in its care, it had engaged with him and his family.
The agency says that in August, it alerted gardaí to a significant concern about Kyran, and it has now opened an internal review into its interactions with Kyran and his family.
Tusla said: "We can confirm that whilst Kyran was not in the care of Tusla, our services had engaged with both he and his family. In August 2024, we alerted An Garda Síochána in relation to a significant concern about Kyran.
"Since August, we have continued to assist and work closely with the Gardaí, and in line with normal practice, all relevant information has been shared.
"We can also confirm that as appropriate a notification has been sent to The National Review Panel (NRP), whose responsibility is to independently review cases of serious incidents involving children in care or known to Tusla.
"We have also commenced an internal review, to look at our engagements and interactions with Kyran and his family."
Former family home being searched
Gardaí say the house they are searching in Dundalk, Co Louth, as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Kyran Durnin was the young boy's family home for a number of years.
The property on Emer Terrace was the missing eight-year-old's family home until May of this year.
However, gardaí have emphasised that the current tenants of the house are not connected in any way with Kyran or his disappearance.
Gardaí have also confirmed that Kyran was a student at a local primary school in Dundalk, up to around the end of the 2021/2022 school year.
They also say they have identified the whereabouts of Kyran's mother, who was previously reported missing along with her son.
Gardaí yesterday took possession of the house in Dundalk following a District Court Order.
The house is being searched and will be subject of technical and forensic examinations, as will the garden and adjoining ground to that house.
Gardaí say the purpose of the searches is to discover any evidence which might provide them with information about Kyran's whereabouts or what happened to him.
In a briefing at Dundalk Garda Station, Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern gave an update on the murder investigation.
He said: "An Garda Síochána is liaising closely with other state agencies, including Tusla, who are co-operating and assisting fully with this murder investigation.
"I want to thank members of the public who have contacted the garda investigation team to date.
"An Garda Síochána's sole focus and primary concern, and that of the investigation team is Kyran.
"We want to discover where Kyran is. We want to discover what has happened to Kyran.
"I continue to appeal to anyone who has any information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran to contact investigating gardaí.
"Do not rule out any information that you may have.
"Please do not assume that the investigation team know the information that you may have.
"Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence."
On 30 August this year, a missing person's report was filed at Drogheda Garda Station in relation to Kyran.
Gardaí were told he was last seen in the town two days earlier.
However, during the course of their inquiry, information came to light that led detectives to suspect that Kyran had been missing for more than two days.
Last week, they upgraded the missing person's case to one of murder.
Gardaí have said that, in spite of their extensive inquiries, they have been unable to find Kyran or identify any information on his current whereabouts or evidence to suggest that he is still alive.
The investigation team at Drogheda Garda Station can be contacted on 041-987 4200 or information can be reported via the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 or at any garda station.
Meanwhile, the Children's Rights Alliance has called for a "broad-based independent review" of the case once gardaí have concluded their investigation.
Its CEO Tanya Ward said: "This is a shocking and disturbing case. How can a child in 2024 go missing from his family and community for two years?
"We urge anyone with information to contact the gardaí who are investigating this case.
"Child protection is everyone's business under our Children First legislation. This is why it is deeply troubling that a child could disappear for so long.
"This case raises serious system-wide and societal issues. Once the gardaí have concluded their investigation, the Children’s Rights Alliance is calling for the establishment of a broad-based independent review with appropriate powers to understand what happened in this case, and to ensure that it doesn’t happen again."
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Minister asks Tusla to send files to specialist panel
Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman has asked Tusla to send its files on Kyran to a specialist panel which looks into the death of any child with links to State care.
This panel reviews the investigation of serious incidents including the deaths of children in care and known to the child protection system.
The move is unusual as generally a case would only be referred to this panel after a garda or other investigation has concluded.
However, Minister O'Gorman said that he has taken the step at this early stage in the garda investigation in order to understand the involvement of Tusla in this case, and given the unusual nature of the case.
'Deeply disturbing'
Taoiseach Simon Harris said the case of Kyran Durnin is "deeply disturbing, deeply upsetting" and "utterly horrifying".
He said the boy was failed badly and "clearly something went extraordinarily wrong".
He said as Taoiseach he is going to get to the bottom of this and everything will be done "to establish from an accountability point of view" how this child was failed.
He said he hopes there is progress this morning as he referred to the garda investigation.
Additional reporting Karen Creed
