Tusla has revised the number of children whose cases were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and are subject to a "wellbeing check" to over 42,000.
The agency confirmed this evening that the provisional number of children encompassed by the wellbeing checks is currently 42,552.
A spokesperson said it was working closely with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to determine the scope, process and required resources to conduct checks on cases closed during the Covid-19 period.
It said the figure was inclusive of any case that was open to Tusla's Child Protection Services, and their case was closed during the period which it defined as 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2022.
However, it noted that the incidence of child protection and welfare concerns among that cohort would likely be in the minority, given known referral trends.
It said Tusla CEO Kate Duggan had requested the appointment of an independent, external chairperson to oversee the work of this review.
Minister Norma Foley has confirmed today that a chair will be announced in the coming days.
Overall, in 2024 Tusla responded to almost 100,000 referrals to the service, and at the end of 2024, there were 22,839 cases open to social work.
There were almost 6,000 children in care.
Two weeks ago, Tusla was asked by the minister to undertake wellbeing checks, beginning with cases closed during Covid-19.
The assessment follows questions over the agency's dealings with the family of Daniel Aruebose.
Gardaí investigating the disappearance of a child who went missing four years ago have discovered skeletal remains in north Co Dublin.
Tusla provided the child's family with support from 2017 to 2020.
There were no child protection concerns received from the service involved according to CEO Kate Duggan.
The CEO of Tusla has previously stated that involvement with the family did not conclude due to the Covid-19 pandemic, rather that it was deemed to be the most appropriate step to take at that time.
Minister considers using ECCE data to check in on children
Speaking to media today, the Minister for Children said she is considering using data from the ECCE scheme as an additional way to check in on children.
Norma Foley made the comment in the wake of the discovery of remains thought to be those of a missing boy, named today as Daniel Aruebose, in Donabate, Co Dublin.
Minister Foley said: "The death of a child is always, always heartbreaking, particularly for those who knew and loved the child," and she extended her sympathy for all who knew Daniel, while paying tribute to the work of the gardaí over the last few weeks.
Asked about how a child could go missing for years, Ms Foley said she accepted that it was shocking, saying, "it is never acceptable that a child would be missing for any length of time".
Daniel Aruebose had not been seen for over four years and was only flagged as missing after irregularities were discovered in an application for child support payments.
Minister Foley said that her department would examine the possibility of a register of children attending Early Childhood Care and Education, to see if children on the scheme could be checked in on.
Ms Foley was also asked about the revision upwards of the number of wellbeing checks on children whose cases were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic to 42,000 by Tusla.
It follows a previous estimation by CEO Kate Duggan that "in or around 38,000 children" fell into the category of the review requested by the minister.
Minister Foley said that the time period had been extended "to include all times when schools were shut or when schools were closed during Covid".
"And I think that's right. I think we want the broadest time span to be involved here," she said.
Minister Foley also confirmed that an independent chair would be appointed to that review of Tusla contacts.
She confirmed that the separate, rapid review of Tusla into the death of Daniel Aruebose would be finished within the next few weeks.
However, the minister said that the National Review Panel investigation would be given as much time and space as it needed, to complete its review of the young boy's death.
