The Children’s Minister has denied he has reports on the deaths of children in care  ‘gathering dust’.

The Dail has begun a special debate in the wake of the publication of the “TF” case by Fine Gael yesterday.

Barry Andrews says he absolutely regrets the death of any child in state care.

And he says society must realise the problem the State faces.

“We cannot lock up children who are presenting challenging behavior in these circumstances whenever it suits us” he said.

“We can only do this in very limited circumstances as outlined in High Court judgements and in practice – we can only do it for a very time-limited period”.

“So these young teenagers who present this most challenging behaviour that come into the care of the State really are a challenge for the State to mind them and to look after them” he added.