Gardaí are to consider whether there are grounds to commence a criminal investigation into the failures in south Kerry's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
A review into care of children at a HSE-run mental health service in south Kerry, published earlier this week, found 46 youngsters suffered significant harm.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has described the report as "shocking" and has said there will now be a full audit nationwide of compliance with CAMHS operation guidelines by all CAMHS teams.
The review into the care of more than 1,300 children at a service in south Kerry found that 227 children received “risky” treatment and 46 came to significant harm through a doctor's diagnosis.
A Garda statement on Friday evening read: "Following the publication of the Report on the Look-Back Review into Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services County MHS Area A, An Garda Siochana in Kerry Division is in receipt of the detailed and extensive final report, which will now be considered in the context of whether there are grounds to commence a criminal investigation.
"An Garda Siochana is fully aware of the impact this report has had on a number of families within the Kerry Division.
"As a result of this report any parent (guardian) of a juvenile who they believe may have suffered harm and wishes to contact An Garda Siochana in Kerry the following options are available
"a) Emailing KY.CAMHSKerry@garda.ie
"b) Calling to their local Garda station.
"Any contacts will be treated sensitively and with the strictest confidence. The Divisional Protective Services Unit in Kerry will engage with each of the families involved and the specific circumstances of their individual case. An assessment will be carried out by the specialist team within the DPSU to determine whether the complaint reaches the threshold to commence a criminal investigation."
