You may have seen this week that there was an increase of almost 10,000 referrals to Tusla between 2021 and 2022.
According to Tusla's latest annual report, there were just over 82,000 referrals to child protection and welfare services in 2022 - a 13% rise on the previous year.
So, what is the reality of the State care situation, and how can children be helped going forward?
Anne Rabbitte is Minister of State for Disability in the Dept of Health & Dept of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, as well as Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East
Tanya Ward is the Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance.
Wayne Dignam is the founder of the Care Leavers Network.
They all joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to talk through the issues.