Minister for Children Norma Foley has asked Tusla to conduct well-being checks on cases closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, as a search continued for a missing boy who is presumed dead in north county Dublin.
Ms Foley described the case as "hugely disturbing".
Her comments came as members of An Garda Síochána searched on open land just outside the village of Donabate and is expected to continue for a number of days.
The search involves excavation equipment and includes the Garda Technical Bureau.
Speaking at a press conference, Ms Foley said she asked the chief executive of Tusla to undertake well-being checks "on all cases, in particular in relation to children during Covid-19, particularly beginning with cases that were closed".
"I know for a variety of reasons cases can close at different times, I know they can also reopen. But specifically, for cases that have closed that they would do a well-being check on those children and Tusla has agreed to do that," she said.
She also said Tusla were conducting a "rapid review" in relation to the case.
Watch: Tusla conducting 'rapid review', minister says
Speaking later on RTÉ's Six One News, Minister Foley said it was necessary to recognise that cases such as this one "are individual cases as well" with "very different circumstances".
She said: "We know in this instance, we know a young couple who were expecting a child felt that they were not in the position to look after that child, wanted to give up the child for adoption.
"They engaged with Tusla as part of that process, there was a fostering situation put in place, but over that time that couple actually bonded very well with the child.
"They were given supports by Tusla, parental supports, and so they ultimately made the decision to keep the child themselves and it was at that point that Tusla's work from that kind of direct engagement with them actually ceased."
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Gardaí searching for a missing boy in Donabate tonight appealed to the media to provide investigating gardaí with "space and time" to carry out the investigation and search operation "sympathetically for everybody involved".
In a statement, they said they were continuing to engage with people connected with the investigation.
It said they were aware that a small number of individuals in the media "are attempting to make unsolicited and unwanted direct contact" with those connected with the investigation.
However, they added that the attempted contacts "are having a direct negative impact on this investigation".
They said they are continuing to investigate all the circumstances of the disappearance and current whereabouts of the boy, who would now be aged seven.
The statement pointed out that yesterday An Garda Síochána ad appealed to the media to provide gardaí with the "space and time to carry out this search operation sensitively."
Read more:
Questions asked of Tusla as Donabate search continues
Yesterday, Tusla confirmed that it had dealings with the child and his family and that its engagement with them ceased in 2020.
The Child and Family Agency also said that since 2020, no new referral or information of concern was received about the child until last Friday, when they referred the matter to gardaí following a report from the Department of Social Protection.
The agency issued a statement last night in the interests of "openness and transparency" and is now conducting a review of its engagement with the family, which will be sent to the National Review Panel (NRP).
The NRP investigates serious incidents and deaths of children who are known to Tusla.
The latest search by gardaí is the second missing child case that Tusla has been involved in as it also had dealings with Kyran Durnin and his family before the Co Louth boy went missing.
He is also presumed dead and is the focus of an active garda investigation.
'Broader societal issues at stake' - Taoiseach
Speaking this morning, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it is important that the circumstances of the case are investigated and examined. It is a complex situation and there sometimes tends to be a premature reaction to "blame Tusla for everything", he said.
He added that he is "not sure this is the correct pathway initially until we know the full facts surrounding the case".
"Cases do get closed and for good reason. There are broader societal issues at stake, let's be clear about that.
"But we will examine this case without jumping to conclusions in terms of what has transpired and examine it and apply any issues that arise from that to future protection frameworks while also respecting family situations as well."
Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Mr Martin added that Ireland has a strong and robust child protection system with changes made over the last decade.
Case has 'shocked nation' - Harris
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the case of a missing boy who is presumed dead has "shocked the nation" and that it is "deeply disturbing".
He echoed the advice of the Taoiseach not to jump to conclusions and said in the first instance allow gardaí to do their job to establish the facts.
"There will then be a broader conversation as there should be in terms of child safety, child protection, what happened in this case, is there broader implications?
"But I think it's important we take this step by step and I think the most important thing right now is allowing An Garda Síochána to do their job."
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Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability Hildegarde Naughten said she "echoed" comments by Ms Foley, about the "seriousness" of the case.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Ms Naughton said Ms Foley has been in "regular contact" with Tusla, "has asked them...to carry out a review of this particular latest case".
"But also there is an independent panel review being carried out, not just in relation to Tusla cases but going beyond that and particularly during the period of Covid-19," she said.
"And whatever needs to be done will be done to ensure that we keep our children safe within this country," Ms Naughton added.
Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane said Tusla has questions to answer regarding its dealings with the child, who is missing and presumed dead, and his family.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Kerrane, who is a member of the Committee on Children and Equality, said she would like to know how many visits Tusla had with the child and his family after he was returned to their care.
"I would like to know, in relation to this case, specifically, how many visits were had with this child.
"What were their concerns? They intervened when the child was very young.
"Obviously, there was a foster family involved, I presume at some point. The child was given up for adoption.
"The child was returned to the family... so I'd like to know why the case was closed. I'd like to know what engagement they had with the family."
