IHREC warns child trafficking in Ireland is vastly under-detected

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission released a report warning that child trafficking in Ireland remains largely invisible, with official figures showing only 10 identified victims in 2024 and 18 in 2025. The commission argues these numbers do not reflect the actual magnitude, as many children are overlooked or classified under child-protection or criminal-justice systems instead of being recognised as trafficking victims.

Stakeholders agree that identification is the primary obstacle, especially as traffickers exploit social media, messaging apps and online gaming to recruit and control children. Chief commissioner Liam Herrick called for a coordinated, child-centred response across police, health, education, immigration and civil-society agencies, and for mandatory training to view cases through a trafficking lens. He also expressed serious concern that the Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Act 2024’s statutory National Referral Mechanism has not yet been brought into force, limiting a clear pathway for victim protection.

The report notes that none of the identified child victims were Irish nationals, suggesting Irish children may be particularly under-identified, with those in state care or unaccompanied minors at heightened risk. The commission urges stronger digital investigation capabilities and cross-sector cooperation to keep pace with evolving online exploitation methods.