The head of the Irish Foster Care Association is blaming a high staff turnover for any potential failure to report abuse allegations.

Breda O'Donovan says children aren't remaining with social workers long enough to feel comfortable telling them about problems.

Her comments follow an RTE Prime Time report which found children were left in a west of Ireland foster home for years, despite allegations of sexual abuse against a family member.

Currently 7 per cent of children in care don't have a social worker assigned to them – that equates to 451 children.

Ms O'Donovan says it takes time to win children's trust.