The new Government is being called on to make child protection its top priority.

The Children's Rights Alliance has said that two new inspection reports published yesterday by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), highlight a rapid increase for demand in services for children most at risk.

CEO of the Alliance Tanya Ward said she is worried that this increase will strain the system.

"We're very concerned at the situation that Tusla and other agencies are working in," she said.

"There's beena huge increase in referrals to Tusla of vulnerable children.

"It looks like it's going to be about 100,000 referrals, and in previous years it's been around the 90,000 mark.

"We're hoping the current Government introduces a new strategy looking at child protection and welfare."

There is a fear that children who don't meet emergency or immediate services are at risk of being left behind by the system.

Main image: Stressed child sits alone in a hall, 21/04/2022 Alamy