The head of the Irish Foster Care Association is blaming a high staff turnover for any potential failure to report abuse allegations.
Breda O'Donovan says children aren't remaining with social workers long enough to feel comfortable telling them about problems.
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Her comments follow an RTE Prime Time report which found children were left in a west of Ireland foster home for years, despite allegations of sexual abuse against a family member.
Currently 7 per cent of children in care don't have a social worker assigned to them – that equates to 451 children.
Ms O'Donovan says it takes time to win children's trust.