THERE were 2,875 'looked after' children in Northern Ireland in 2014/2015 - the highest figure since records began.
The number has risen by 14 per cent since 2011 - and by 24 per cent since 1999 when the lowest number was recorded under the 1995 Children Order legislation.
The figures, contained in 'Children's Social Care Statistics for Northern Ireland 20114/15', also reveal that 23,834 children in the north were known to Social Services as children 'in need' - an eight per cent decrease on the previous year.
Neglect and physical abuse were the main reasons for a child being on the Child Protection Register which, in March this year, had 1,969 children listed.
This was 55 more than in 2013/14 and follows a pattern of "rapid growth" between 2008 and 2011 which may be due to "several high profile" child protection cases having been covered by the media during this time.
Overall figures show that in Northern Ireland 38,418 children were referred to Social Services during 2014/15, with the largest proportion of referrals received from police (26 per cent) followed by Social Services themselves (22 per cent).
For those allocated for further action, the majority related to a carer who needed support to give appropriate care for the child (76 per cent), with 21 per cent connected to child protection investigations and two per cent to a child with disability.
Three quarters of looked after children were in foster care placements.
The bulletin published by the The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety also recorded a total of 55,200 registered places for day care in the north - a two per cent decrease on the previous year.
Childminders provided the majority of day care provision, followed by playgroups, day nurseries, out-of-school clubs and other organisations.
