There was a 36 percent fall in the number of referrals to the Child and Family agency, Tusla, during the first Covid-19 lockdown.
Today's Oireachtas Children's Committee will hear how reports on child protection and welfare went from an average of 1,500 per week to 960.
Tusla's also expected to address the recent controversey surrounding its takeover of a new Mother and Baby Home Commission database at today's meeting.
Chief Executive of the Children's Rights Alliance, Tanya Ward, says a collapse in referrals from teachers in particular had a big impact during lockdown
