454 children went missing from state care between 2000 and 2008.

A report to be launched this morning into the care of foreign national children, who are in Ireland without a guardian, also reveals that 23 children have disappeared this year alone.

In many instances they aren’t reported missing to gardai.

Of the 9 hostels inspected in the Ombudsman for Children report only 2 were registered with 7 found to be unsafe and unclean.

In some hostels children are left overnight with little or no adult supervision.