Teenage mental health, vulnerable parents, and children at risk of drug trafficking and sexual exploitation are just some of the issues being considered by the country's courts.
A new judicial childcare report also shows that some young people have problems of such complexity that they can't be dealt with here and are sent away for therapy abroad.
In one case, the High Court granted a secure care order for a teenage boy diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome with a history of drug and alcohol abuse.
Another saw a secure care order for a teenage girl already living in residential care, who was using drugs, absconding and not attending school.
The District Court saw cases involving very vulnerable parents, including two where the parents had their own guardians, and one where there were concerns a young mother was being forced into marriage.
Director of the Child Care Law Reporting Project Dr Carol Coulter says there are some very serious issues coming before the courts:
- The full volume of 47 cases from all parts of the country is available on line at: childlawproject.ie.
