The search of a house in Dundalk, along with the excavation of the back of the property, has been completed without uncovering the remains of a missing eight-year-old boy.
Kyran Durnin was last seen at the end of the school year in 2022. He was reported missing in August this year and Gardaí have launched a murder investigation.
The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, raised its concern around Kyran to Gardai in August.
“Since August, we have continued to assist and work closely with the gardai, and in line with normal practice, all relevant information has been shared,” the organisation said in a statement.
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman said there is a need to find out “want went wrong."
“This case has the whole country shocked I think,” he said. “It is deeply troubling that a child went missing, was not in touch with state agencies for a two-year period and we need to understand what went wrong in this particular case,” he said.
“We can absolutely understand all the engagements that this child and his family had with Tusla and indeed with other elements of the state and what went wrong in this situation.”
Mr. O’Gorman said a review needs to take place to “understand exactly what did or indeed what didn’t happen in this case. We can’t be complacent when it comes to child protection.”
Kyran’s 24-year-old mother, who had also been reported missing, has been located.
Last week, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “It is an extraordinary incident. I’ve over 40 years now in the police, and I have not seen really the like.
“I cannot think of a similar set of circumstances, and in that way there’s a particular element to this which is difficult to comprehend. But we have our work to do.
“This is a murder investigation and you can be assured that we are pursuing it with the full vigour and resources.”
