The State agency responsible for the protection of children has accepted minors were left in danger because of poor decision-making.
Tusla has acknowledged the findings of an investigation by a National Review Panel into a foster home in Galway where three females under the age of 10 were raped. A statement said: “We know this experience of abuse had a devastating impact on the victims and their families.
“And it is clear some of the decisions made at the time, prior to the establishment of Tusla, were not robust enough to keep the children safe.
“It is deeply regrettable this happened to children in a place where they should have been safe from harm.
“We acknowledge the need to continuously improve and current policies, practice, oversight and governance in the area of foster care are very different to the time these heinous incidents occurred.”
The panel conducted their probe after Rachel Barry waived her right to anonymity and revealed she had been raped by Keith Burke, the son of her foster parents, when she was eight.
Two other women that were sexually abused in the same foster home later came forward and Burke was locked up last year.
Despite Ms Barry’s claims, social workers, some of whom still work with Tusla, made the decision to leave children in the foster home.
