The Chief Executive of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has expressed concern about the effect school closures during the Covid-19 emergency are having on children at risk, with the number of referrals to the agency significantly down since schools closed last month.
Brendan Gloster said schools play a significant part in the reporting of concerns about child at risk of neglect or abuse as they normally have contact with children "all day, everyday".
Schools make up a quarter of reports to Tusla each year regarding children at risk. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Gloster said that children at risk are now spending more time without the support system they would normally have around them - at schools, sports clubs and in other