𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 A report by Ali Bracken in today’s Sunday Independent highlights growing concern that the number of children being trafficked into Ireland for criminal and sexual exploitation is far higher than official figures suggest, with experts warning that current detections represent only “the tip of the iceberg”. Recent figures from the Department of Justice show a sharp rise in identified victims. In the most recent year, 18 minors were identified among 114 trafficking victims, compared to 10 children out of 67 victims the previous year. While this increase suggests improved detection, campaigners believe it reflects only a fraction of the true scale of the problem. According to JP O’Sullivan of @MECPATHS, the majority of children identified over the past two years have been Vietnamese nationals trafficked into Ireland to work in illegal cannabis grow houses. He also warned that children are being trafficked for sexual exploitation, in some cases as young as 14. While public perception often focuses on children being brought into Ireland, the report emphasises that trafficking also occurs internally. Children already living in Ireland, particularly those in vulnerable situations, are being groomed and exploited by criminal networks. O’Sullivan pointed to evidence of children in Tusla care being targeted by gangs and drawn into criminal activity. Research from University College Dublin has previously highlighted how vulnerable children in residential care are groomed by groups of men for sexual exploitation. This underscores the heightened risks faced by children in Tusla care, where instability and vulnerability can make them prime targets for exploitation. Concerns have also been raised about the lack of comprehensive Irish data on the scale of trafficking and exploitation. O’Sullivan called for mandatory human trafficking training for all Gardaí and the establishment of a national child specific referral system, which would act as a coordinated safety mechanism for identifying and supporting victims. @AontuIE leader @Toibin1 echoed concerns that child trafficking is significantly under reported. He pointed to cases where children in Tusla care later reappeared in exploitative situations, including one instance where a girl was found in a brothel a year after being in care. Tóibín also highlighted broader systemic failures, noting that 234 children who were either in Tusla care or known to Tusla died between 2014 and 2026. He argued that alongside trafficking from abroad, Ireland must confront serious internal failings, where vulnerable children are not adequately protected and are instead exposed to exploitation. The report suggests that both external trafficking and internal exploitation are part of the same wider problem, where children at risk are being drawn into criminal and sexual exploitation networks. In response, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said the Department of Justice is seeking to undertake dedicated research into child trafficking through the 2026 Research Ireland Public Service Fellowship. This research aims to better understand the extent of trafficking in Ireland and to inform future policy and operational responses. He added that significant measures have already been taken to combat human trafficking, including efforts to improve victim identification, raise awareness, and provide training for professionals. However, the overall picture presented in Bracken’s report is one of a growing and largely hidden crisis, where increasing detections may reflect only a small portion of a much wider and deeply concerning reality.
