Updated 14.23

The Child and Family Agency has apologised for what it says were 'unacceptable shortcomings' in the care of a teenager who spent much of his life in state care before dying of a drug overdose.

It also found considerable gaps between his needs and services offered by the state, with many responses being inadequate.

It is one of four reports published today by the National Review Panel from the HSE into the deaths of young people known to child protection services.

The teenager, in this report called 'Luke', died of a drug overdose when he was 19.

He was moved into foster care with friends of his family after his father died when he was 10 - but this care was never assessed or approved by the HSE.

From the age of 15, he was placed in a residential unit at which time his case worker reported he was misusing drugs and he ended up in an emergency hostel for the homeless.

The report finds there was an inadequate response to evidence that he had been abused and neglected as a child, his needs were never properly assessed throughout his life and his placements were not matched to his needs.

It says there was little appreciation that he was at risk of significant harm, and repeated use of out of hours emergency homeless accommodation was not appropriate - given that he was a teenager.

The director of policy and strategy at the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), Paul Harrison, says there were considerable shortcomings in supporting and protecting this vulnerable young person.

Danny's aunt Donna Lambe spoke to Newstalk Lunchtime about the findings of the report.